Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35:568, 2014 Copyright © 2014 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. ISSN: 0161-2840 print / 1096-4673 online DOI: 10.3109/01612840.2014.929373
FROM THE GUEST EDITOR
Introduction to this Special Edition on Men’s Mental Health Danny G. Willis, DNS, RN, PMHCNS-BC, Guest Editor Sandra P. Thomas, PhD, RN, FAAN, Editor
All special editions of nursing journals reflect, to some degree, salient and burgeoning areas of practice innovation or emerging foci within nursing scholarship. This special edition of Issues in Mental Health Nursing focuses on men’s mental health, a heretofore neglected area in nursing and psychological science. However, during the past decade or so, there has been a heightened recognition, for many reasons, of the need for improvements in men’s mental health and research to support practice innovation. Scholarly debate continues about men’s mental health and the science continues to evolve in this substantive area of inquiry—signs designating a maturing discipline. The articles in this edition point to the prime importance to men and their significant others of nurses understanding the complexity of men’s life experiences including the social, psychological, and environmental circumstances that shape men’s ability to live a healthy, caring, and meaningful life. Furthermore, it is important to understand how men reached the point in their lives where they were struggling just to survive in one way or another. Scholarship devoted to women’s life experiences and mental health is exponentially better developed, but without an equivalent development in understanding men’s mental health challenges and suffering, it will be almost impossible to remedy some of the social ills that others are exposed to at the hands of men. The articles in this special edition represent the developing knowledge about a wide range of men’s mental health issues exemplifying these complexities. These include, but are not limited to, theoretical considerations of social constructions of men’s work within forensic psychiatric settings, lack of male
parenting/role modeling, nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors among men in correctional settings, intimate partner abuse, substance abuse and dependency issues, vulnerable gay and bisexual homeless men, men’s suffering and challenges to healing in the aftermath of childhood maltreatment, as well as men with psychotic disorders. Furthermore, specific cultural issues and expectations related to male social norms are explored. The articles in this edition are from a variety of countries and speak to the ubiquity of men’s mental health challenges and similarities as well as cultural differences and expectations that underlie men’s health and prospects for well-being and mutually respectful caring relationships. Many of these issues have been understudied and were, for many years, behind a wall of silence; these articles are evidence of a much needed and timely change. With the continuing evolution of the science of men’s mental health, education, and policy initiatives, the problem of an insufficient cadre of mental health professionals who are knowledgeable about men’s mental health issues becomes amenable to remedy. Furthermore, as a reflection of the state of the science and practice, very few specialized men’s mental health services are available across the globe. It may be possible, that with increased knowledge, for nurses and other mental health professionals to collaborate and influence the health policy environment related to the availability of men’s mental health services. Declaration of Interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
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Copyright of Issues in Mental Health Nursing is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
FROM THE GUEST EDITOR
Introduction to this Special Edition on Men’s Mental Health Danny G. Willis, DNS, RN, PMHCNS-BC, Guest Editor Sandra P. Thomas, PhD, RN, FAAN, Editor
All special editions of nursing journals reflect, to some degree, salient and burgeoning areas of practice innovation or emerging foci within nursing scholarship. This special edition of Issues in Mental Health Nursing focuses on men’s mental health, a heretofore neglected area in nursing and psychological science. However, during the past decade or so, there has been a heightened recognition, for many reasons, of the need for improvements in men’s mental health and research to support practice innovation. Scholarly debate continues about men’s mental health and the science continues to evolve in this substantive area of inquiry—signs designating a maturing discipline. The articles in this edition point to the prime importance to men and their significant others of nurses understanding the complexity of men’s life experiences including the social, psychological, and environmental circumstances that shape men’s ability to live a healthy, caring, and meaningful life. Furthermore, it is important to understand how men reached the point in their lives where they were struggling just to survive in one way or another. Scholarship devoted to women’s life experiences and mental health is exponentially better developed, but without an equivalent development in understanding men’s mental health challenges and suffering, it will be almost impossible to remedy some of the social ills that others are exposed to at the hands of men. The articles in this special edition represent the developing knowledge about a wide range of men’s mental health issues exemplifying these complexities. These include, but are not limited to, theoretical considerations of social constructions of men’s work within forensic psychiatric settings, lack of male
parenting/role modeling, nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviors among men in correctional settings, intimate partner abuse, substance abuse and dependency issues, vulnerable gay and bisexual homeless men, men’s suffering and challenges to healing in the aftermath of childhood maltreatment, as well as men with psychotic disorders. Furthermore, specific cultural issues and expectations related to male social norms are explored. The articles in this edition are from a variety of countries and speak to the ubiquity of men’s mental health challenges and similarities as well as cultural differences and expectations that underlie men’s health and prospects for well-being and mutually respectful caring relationships. Many of these issues have been understudied and were, for many years, behind a wall of silence; these articles are evidence of a much needed and timely change. With the continuing evolution of the science of men’s mental health, education, and policy initiatives, the problem of an insufficient cadre of mental health professionals who are knowledgeable about men’s mental health issues becomes amenable to remedy. Furthermore, as a reflection of the state of the science and practice, very few specialized men’s mental health services are available across the globe. It may be possible, that with increased knowledge, for nurses and other mental health professionals to collaborate and influence the health policy environment related to the availability of men’s mental health services. Declaration of Interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
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Copyright of Issues in Mental Health Nursing is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
