Technologies for physical health monitoring in mental health settings

People with severe mental illness experience poorer physical health than the general population, with 13–30 years shortened life expectancy, highlighting the need for improved physical health monitoring for mental health service users.

The project aim was to share knowledge and expertise between Wales and Australia about the topic of monitoring physical health in mental health settings.

Our intention was to a) learn from each other; b) gain a mutual understanding of mental health care in respective countries; c) build relationships for collaboration and advancing research, and 4) identify opportunities to grow evidence to further enhance technology’s utility in mental health care.

To achieve these, two Australian mental health nurses visited Wales accompanied by the project lead (Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing). The project involved visiting health boards across Wales to experience mental health care in inpatient, community and forensic settings; and to meet with academics, research funders and policymakers.

The visit enabled discussion and reflection between the Australian and Welsh contingent to share and learn from each other. Significant differences were found across the two countered for professional identity of mental health nursing and their skill set; recognition of mental health qualifications; mental health models of care and service configuration; infrastructure and design of mental health facilities and services; workforce structure and workplace culture; and the role of nurse-led mental health facilities (scope of practice).

The project allowed for rapid face-to-face exposure to coalface mental health nursing, which boosted joint learning and information sharing, and seeded opportunities for cross-pollination relating to mental health nursing practices.