Extending the role of the community mental health nurse

Community mental health nursing is a diverse activity, which operates mainly from a community mental health team base, and commonly focuses on visiting discharged patients at home. This article discusses some of the implications of the development of a community mental health nurse consultant (CMHNC) role, which was the key recommendation of a recent study on the 'required role' of the mental health nurse in primary health care (Barker, Walker and Pearson, 1998). The need for a CMHNC role, specific dimensions and user perspectives are examined. To what extent the CMHNC may be able to bridge the gap between primary and secondary services and further develop the concept of nursing the mental health needs of the whole community is also explored.