← Home
Mental Health Nursing Flashcards
Free Nursing Cards for Mental Health Placements
These free Nursing flashcards cover mental health conditions, therapeutic communication, risk assessment and the key medications used in mental health care. Ideal for student nurse revision.
Question
What is mental health?
tap to flip
Answer
A state of wellbeing in which an individual realises their abilities, copes with normal stresses of life, works productively, and contributes to their community (WHO definition).
tap to flip
Question
What is the biopsychosocial model of mental health?
tap to flip
Answer
Mental illness is understood through interacting biological (genetics, brain chemistry), psychological (thoughts, coping styles), and social (relationships, life events, socioeconomic factors) factors.
tap to flip
Question
What is depression in mental health nursing?
tap to flip
Answer
A mood disorder with persistent low mood, anhedonia (loss of pleasure), fatigue, cognitive impairment, and in severe cases, suicidal ideation. Treated with antidepressants (SSRIs), CBT, and social support.
tap to flip
Question
What is schizophrenia?
tap to flip
Answer
A severe mental illness with positive symptoms (hallucinations — hearing voices, delusions), negative symptoms (social withdrawal, flat affect, poverty of speech), and cognitive impairment. Treated with antipsychotics.
tap to flip
Question
What is the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 (England and Wales)?
tap to flip
Answer
Legislation allowing compulsory detention and treatment of people with mental disorders in the interests of their own health/safety or the safety of others (sections 2, 3, and 5 are most commonly used).
tap to flip
Question
What is Section 2 of the Mental Health Act?
tap to flip
Answer
Allows compulsory admission for assessment for up to 28 days. Requires a recommendation from two doctors (one Section 12 approved) and an approved mental health professional (AMHP).
tap to flip
Question
What is Section 3 of the Mental Health Act?
tap to flip
Answer
Compulsory admission for treatment for up to 6 months (renewable). Used when the patient has a known mental disorder and treatment is available. Requires same approvals as Section 2.
tap to flip
Question
What is the Mental Capacity Act 2005?
tap to flip
Answer
Governs decision-making for people who lack capacity. Five principles: presume capacity, support to decide, right to make unwise decisions, best interests if lacking capacity, least restrictive option.
tap to flip
Question
What is a risk assessment in mental health nursing?
tap to flip
Answer
Systematic identification and evaluation of risks including self-harm, suicide, violence, neglect, and vulnerability — used to inform care planning and safeguarding decisions.
tap to flip
Question
What is therapeutic communication?
tap to flip
Answer
Communication techniques used by nurses to establish trust and promote patient wellbeing: active listening, open questions, empathy, validation, non-verbal attunement, and maintaining appropriate boundaries.
tap to flip
🔒
See all 20 cards for free
Create a free account to unlock the full deck — no payment needed.