This exciting new book offers a contemporary manual for the mental health nurse within a mental health care system that is increasingly focused on recovery. Mental Health Nursing incorporates recent policy changes that place a greater emphasis on person-centred and social caring, whilst retaining a strong evidence base. The holistic, skills-based approach helps the student and the beginning practitioner to understand the complex causation of mental illness, its diagnosis, effective interventions and treatments, and the client's experience of mental illness. Broad, yet in-depth, examination of the essential features of contemporary mental health nursing practice A manual for practice - a skills-based approach provides clear guidance to novices on how to complete essential mental health nursing roles 'Critical Thinking Challenges' based on Case Histories provide a realistic context 'Nurse's Stories' explore the reality of mental health nursing care On-line resources guide the reader to reflect upon the essential content and ideas contained within each chapter