St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS) shares a new podcast exploring what it really means to be a mental health nurse today.
Everyone has the right to live a mentally healthy life and to feel empowered to achieve whatever they’re capable of. And when someone needs a little help to get to that point, psychiatric nurses are there to help.
In our new Mental Health Conversations podcast, we take you inside the doors of SPMHS, meeting nurses from right across our services, as well as some of our service users who have spent time in their care.
Together, we step inside the world of a mental health service, exploring the rewards and challenges of the role of a mental health nurse, the powerful impact that nurses can make in people’s lives, and where psychiatric nursing is going in the future.
Made by nurses, for nurses, the series is hosted by Shane Kirwan and Aoife Farrington of our Nursing Department, and was inspired by an idea from Evelina Dudenaite, a staff nurse who won our Caroline Doyle Nurse Innovation Idea of the Year Award in 2023.
Here, you’ll find each episode of the series: you can listen in the player below, or keep scrolling to get show notes and links for each individual episode. The podcast is available to listen on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
Whether you're a seasoned nurse, a nursing student, or an advocate for mental health and human rights, Mental Health Conversations is here to inform, inspire and empower us and to celebrate mental health nursing as a job and vocation that plays such a critical role in society.
Episode one: A day in the life of a mental health nurse
The role of the mental health nurse involves many things, but, at the core, it’s all about helping people to get better. In this very first episode of Mental Health Conversations, Clinical Nurse Manager Jenny Judge describes the day-to-day aspects of her job, what she finds rewarding about her role, and the positive impact that she hopes to have on the people in her care.
We hear a powerful story from Jude McCarthy, one of our former service users, about her time in SPMHS – what led to her admission, the good parts and the challenges, and the critical role that nurses played in her experience, and, ultimately, in her recovery.
And host Shane Kirwan takes us on a tour of St Patrick’s University Hospital, where we learn about the service user journey, day-to-day life on the wards, and some of the recreational activities available for our service users to enjoy.
Listen to episode one in the player below, or tune in on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
See more from episode one
Episode two: Providing care for adults with eating disorders
In SPMHS, we offer a range of specialist services designed to meet the care needs of service users experiencing certain mental health difficulties. One of these specialities is our Eating Disorders Service which provides care for adults who have eating difficulties.
On this episode of Mental Health Conversations, host Aoife Farrington meets Gráinne O’Connor, Clinical Nurse Manager of our Eating Disorder Day Care Programme. Gráinne describes what the programme involves, the nature of the care it provides, and how it feels to watch service users recover.
Aoife also meets two members of the team behind the Eating Disorder Aftercare Programme, dietician Laura Crotty and manager Megan Strickland, to explore how having ongoing connection and peer support makes a real difference to long-term recovery.
Listen to our second episode below, or tune in on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
See more from episode two
Episode three: Caring for adults with anxiety through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Virtual Reality (VR)
Anxiety disorders can have a profound effect on our lives, and at SPMHS, we offer specialised treatment for people experiencing them.
On this episode of Mental Health Conversations, Shane Kirwan meets Frank Smith, Clinical Nurse Manager 2 on our Anxiety Disorders Programme. They discuss the various difficulties that the programme is designed to treat, some of the key ideas behind CBT, how care is structured and what it involves. We also hear stories of successful recovery.
More recently, VR technology has been emerging as a way of supporting treatment of certain anxiety-related conditions, such as phobias. Frank describes an innovative new VR treatment being used in SPMHS, and we hear a first-hand account of the technology in action with Orlaith Grehan of our Communications team.
We also explore two of the other specialised services and treatments that we offer in SPMHS by visiting our special care unit and learning more about Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
Listen to our third episode below, or tune in on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
See more from episode three
Episode four: Self-care in nursing: Prioritizing wellbeing for better care
Mental health nursing is a rewarding yet demanding profession. While it requires compassion and dedication, the role can also bring challenges such as long hours, shift work, and providing support to people during difficult times. For nurses, knowing when to step back and recharge is crucial to maintaining the balance between professional dedication and personal wellbeing.
In this episode of Mental Health Conversations, we dive into the significance of self-care in nursing, explore strategies for relaxation and rejuvenation, and discuss how SPMHS supports the physical and mental wellbeing of our staff.
Featuring:
- Laura-Lee O’Brien, staff nurse
- Gary Kiernan, former service user, patient advocate, and co-author of a research paper called Finding My Hard Hat
- Emma Prendergast, staff nurse
- Grainne Phelan, staff nurse
- Robbie O’Neil, Clinical Nurse Manager 2
Listen to our fourth episode below, or tune in on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
See more from episode four
Episode five: Advancing mental healthcare through research
At SPMHS, we are constantly working to improve how we care for our service users. Research practice lies at the heart of this.
In this episode of Mental Health Conversations, Aoife Farrington speaks with colleagues who have carried out research projects, as well as those who support nurses with the process. They share their experiences of conducting research, including the practical steps, time commitments involved, and the many benefits research can bring to both service users and nurses alike.
Featuring:
- Gráinne Donohue, Programme Manager of our Academic Institute
- Lisa Douglas, mental health nurse
- Mary Needham, Clinical Placement Coordinator (CPC)
- Marie King, nurse
- Mary Corrigan, CPC 0.5 and Clinical Skills Facilitator 0.5
- Adam Kavanagh, Programme Manager of Clinical Governance here in SPMHS.
Listen to our fourth episode below, or tune in on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
See more from episode five
Episode six: The future of nursing
In the final episode of the Mental Health Conversations, we explore the future of nursing and the exciting opportunities to further shape the profession, from advancements in technology to improving recruitment, retention, and the perception of mental healthcare, Shane Kirwan speaks with team members about the key areas driving change.
Frankie Prendergast, our Digital Health Applications Programme Manager, talks about how in SPMHS, we are leading the way in digital care delivery. She shares how innovative technology is making treatment more accessible for services users and empowering nurses with new ways to deliver care and advance their careers.
John Creedon, our Director of Nursing, describes where the nursing profession finds itself today. He outlines how SPMHS is positioning itself as the employer of choice for mental health professionals into the future.
Finally, Gary Kiernan, a former service user and mental health advocate, looks ahead to a future free of stigma. He shares his thoughts on how he believes that will be achieved.
Listen to our sixth episode below, or tune in on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
