Mental Health Nursing
Mental health nursing is concerned with supporting people through some of the most challenging experiences a person can face: psychosis, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, addiction, eating disorders, and the range of conditions that affect emotional and psychological wellbeing. It is a profession that combines clinical knowledge with relational skill, requiring nurses who can form therapeutic relationships, assess risk thoughtfully, and deliver care that is person-centred, evidence-based and ethically grounded. Mental health nursing is practised across a wide range of settings, from acute inpatient wards to community teams, crisis services and voluntary sector organisations.
At London South Bank University this three-year programme includes a foundation year option for students who need an additional preparatory stage before the main nursing curriculum. LSBU's affiliations with NHS Trusts and hospitals in London and the South East provide a rich range of clinical placement opportunities in which you will develop your skills under the supervision of qualified nurses. You will study the biological, psychological and social dimensions of mental health, develop your understanding of the evidence base for mental health interventions, and build the clinical and communication skills needed for professional practice.
The programme leads to registration as a Mental Health Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Registered Mental Health Nurses work in NHS inpatient services, community mental health teams, crisis resolution services, CAMHS, older adult services, forensic settings, and a growing range of independent and voluntary sector organisations. The London location gives LSBU graduates access to one of the country's most varied and well-resourced mental health landscapes. Many nurses go on to postgraduate training in specific therapies such as CBT or DBT, nurse prescribing, or leadership and management.
The profession is in sustained demand across the UK, and NMC registration provides a portable qualification that supports career progression throughout the country.