Stories from mental health.

Mental health nursing has always been a particularly challenging area in which to work. Not only in providing quality nursing care for clients who can be unpredictable, demanding and at times aggressive, but also in adjusting to changes in philosophy, focus and even contexts of work. It would be fair to say that mental health services in NSW are in a state of crisis. Mental health nurses are feeling the effects, but despite the difficulties remain strongly committed to their speciality. The Association and the membership benefit greatly from the energy, enthusiasm and ideas that mental health nurses generate. This issue of The Lamp acknowledges the important contribution of mental health nurses to the profession of nursing.