Mental Health of Nurses and Their Role in Therapeutic Engagement, Cultural Perceptions, and Systemic Challenges

The role of mental health nursing students has become increasingly visible in shaping the therapeutic landscape of psychiatric care, particularly in the Philippine context where systemic barriers, cultural stigma, and resource shortages continue to challenge effective mental health delivery. As nursing students are often placed in psychiatric units as part of their clinical training, their presence not only contributes to patient engagement but also serves as a formative experience that influences their future professional practice. Despite promising findings showing that student-patient interaction fosters emotional support and identity restoration among mental health patients, the long-term clinical value and educational outcomes of these interactions remain underexplored. In a country navigating both the implementation of its Mental Health Law and persistent societal misconceptions about mental illness, investigating how student mental health nurses impact and are impacted by clinical placements is crucial. This study aims to bridge the gap between short-term educational outcomes and long-term professional growth, while also examining how students navigate culture-bound stigma and under-resourced systems.

Who Can Use These Topics

This research is ideal for students and professionals pursuing the following courses or strands:

College Programs:

• BS Nursing (Major in Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing)

• BA Psychology / BS Psychology

• BS Public Health

• BA Sociology

• BA Anthropology

Senior High School Strands:

• Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS)

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

• General Academic Strand (GAS)

Why This Topic Needs Research

Here are key gaps that merit further study:

• Lack of longitudinal outcomes on student engagement: Jones et al. (2025) emphasized the emotional value of shared time between forensic patients and student nurses but did not investigate whether these experiences translate into sustained professional development or improved patient outcomes after placement.

• Unclear behavioral effects of attitude shifts: Qtait et al. (2025) confirmed that psychiatric courses improved nursing students' attitudes toward mental illness, yet did not assess how these attitude changes influence future therapeutic communication or empathetic clinical behaviors.

• Limited research on instructional effectiveness for mental health readiness: Lim et al. (2025) outlined learner diversity in mental health transition but did not compare how simulation, mentorship, or digital training support clinical preparedness.

• Understudied stress intervention outcomes for nurses: Jakaria and Jalilul (2025) linked workplace stress to nurse mental health but failed to examine institutional support systems like wellness programs and their effectiveness in high-pressure environments.

• Inconclusive understanding of Filipino cultural beliefs and stigma: Rubio (2023) noted strong cultural stigmas rooted in supernatural beliefs but identified only three empirical studies on Filipino nurses' attitudes, highlighting the need for more culturally sensitive mental health education.

• Coping strategies not linked to institutional demands: Diaz and Caboral-Stevens (2021) found that Filipino nurses rely heavily on spirituality, yet their research lacked connections to workplace stressors and role conflict under clinical pressure.

• Policy gaps disconnected from frontliner experience: Aldalaeen et al. (2025) critiqued policy and infrastructure limits but did not explore how these deficits manifest in role strain, burnout, and retention issues for psychiatric nurses working in resource-poor regions .

Feasibility & Challenges by Target Group

Get Your Free Thesis Title

Finding a well-structured quantitative research topic can be challenging, but I am here to assist you.

✔ Expertly Curated Topics – Not AI-generated, but carefully developed based on existing academic studies and research trends.
✔ Comprehensive Research Support – Includes an existed and updated research gaps, explanation of variables as well as SDG relevance.
✔ Personalized for Your Field – Get a thesis title tailored to your academic requirements and research interests.

Prefer video content? Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for expert insights on research topics, methodologies, and academic writing strategies.

References

Aldalaeen, M. O., Haddad, R. H., Bani Ahmad, T., & Dao-ayen, N. (2025). Mental health law in Philippines: health policy issues governing mental health promotion among Filipino older adults with serious mental illnesses. Mental Health and Social Inclusion.

Diaz, D., & Caboral-Stevens, M. (2021). Health-promoting behavior and positive mental health of Filipino nurses in Michigan. J. Nurs. Pract. Appl. Rev. Res, 11, 20-26.

Jakaria, S. L., & Jalilul, A. T. (2025). Work-related stress: Perceived effects on the mental health among nurses in Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospital. Social Psychology and Human Experience, 2 (1). DOI: 10.62596/azc29b94.

Jones, E. S., Wright, K. M., & McKeown, M. (2025). The impact of patients and student mental health nurses sharing time together in forensic units. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 21(1), 64-74.

Lim, E., Higham, K., Ferraz, K., Harban, K., Tate, R., Sewell, A., ... & Delahunty, S. (2025). Graduate Nurses in Acute Mental Health Settings and Their Viewpoints of Nursing Education to Support Their Transition to Mental Health Nursing: AQ Methodology Study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 34(1), e13493.

Qtait, M., Shqerat, D., Mashahrea, H., Sayyad, M., Shqerat, R., Azzeh, S., ... & Dana, Z. (2025). Attitudes of Nursing Students towards Individuals with Mental Illness before and after Attending the Mental Health Nursing Course: comparative study. In Seminars in Medical Writing and Education (Vol. 4, No. 63, p. 63). AG Editor.

Rubio, R. R. M. A. (2023). The Filipino concept of mental illness and nurses’ attitudes: A scoping review. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN), 15(1), 126-137.

Be my Partner

realynmanalo117@gmail.com