• To understand the role of a mental state assessment
• To recognise individuals who may be experiencing deterioration in their mental health
• To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, or you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers)
• To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)
Research indicates that approximately one in six people will experience a common mental health condition such as depression or anxiety, while people with severe mental illness commonly experience significant health inequalities. Nurses will come into frequent contact with people experiencing mental health issues in hospitals and in the community. Mental state assessment is a tool that enables nurses to develop an understanding of an individual’s mental health that will be universally recognised across healthcare services. This article provides an outline of the various elements involved in a mental state assessment, so that clinicians such as non-mental health nurses can identify people experiencing deteriorating mental health.
Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2021.e11612
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Rees H (2021) Identifying people with deteriorating mental health using a mental state assessment. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2021.e11612
Published online: 12 April 2021
or
Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more