Challenges for nurses who work in community mental health centres in the West Bank, Palestine

Marie, Mohammad, Hannigan, Ben ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2512-6721 and Jones, Aled ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2921-8236 2017. Challenges for nurses who work in community mental health centres in the West Bank, Palestine. International Journal of Mental Health Systems 11 (3) 10.1186/s13033-016-0112-4

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Abstract

Background: Nurses in Palestine (occupied Palestinian territory) work in a significantly challenging environment. The mental health care system is underdeveloped and under-resourced. For example, the total number of nurses who work in community mental health centres in the West Bank is seventeen, clearly insufficient in a total population of approximately three million. This research explored daily challenges that Palestinian community mental health nurses (CMHNs) face within and outside their demanding workplaces. Methods: An interpretive qualitative design was chosen. Face-to-face interviews were completed with fifteen participants. Thirty-two hours of observations of the day-to-day working environment and workplace routines were conducted in two communities’ mental health centres. Written documents relating to practical job-related policies were also collected from various workplaces. Thematic analysis was used across all data sources resulting in four main themes, which describe the challenges faced by CMHNs. Results and conclusion: These themes consist of the context of unrest, stigma, lack of resources, and organisational or mental health system challenges. The study concludes with a better understanding of challenges in nursing which draws on wider cultural contexts and resilience. The outcomes from this study can be used to decrease the challenges for health professionals and enhance the mental health care system in Palestine.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Conflict zone, Mental health system, Challenges, Community mental health nurses, Palestine, West Bank
Publisher:	BioMed Central
ISSN:	1752-4458
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 January 2017
Date of Acceptance:	13 December 2016
Last Modified:	04 May 2023 15:52
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/97146

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