Quinn Chris, Browne Graeme
Gold Coast Mental Health Service and Drug and Alcohol Service, Ashmore Community Mental Health, 10/207 Currumburra Road, Ashmore, Qld 4215, Australia.
Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2009 Jun;18(3):195-203. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2009.00598.x.
This article is a review of the literature examining the sexuality of mental health consumers and the role of mental health nurses. A search identified 72 English articles on the topic. The evidence clearly indicates that sexuality is a critical aspect of who we are as individuals, and of how we view ourselves, but discussion of this topic is neglected by mental health nurses. Discussion focuses upon the wide acceptance of sexuality as a legitimate area for nurses to address in their care, and addresses mental health nurses' lack of knowledge about sexuality, conservative attitudes, and anxiety when discussing sexual issues. Consumer sexuality is poorly assessed in mental health, and is infrequently explored by mental health nurses. The result is that issues of sexuality for the consumer continue to affect many areas of their lives, including their relationships and ongoing commitment to treatment. The nurse-consumer relationship provides an opportunity to take sexual history into consideration, promote safe sexual practices, discuss sexual problems, and educate clients about sexual issues. This literature review identifies the need for further discussion of this topic and for research to point the way ahead for this important but neglected area of mental health nursing.
本文是一篇文献综述，探讨了心理健康服务消费者的性取向以及心理健康护士所扮演的角色。一项检索发现了72篇关于该主题的英文文章。证据清楚地表明，性取向是我们作为个体的一个关键方面，以及我们如何看待自己，但这个话题在心理健康护士中却被忽视了。讨论聚焦于性取向作为护士在护理中应涉及的合法领域已被广泛接受，并指出心理健康护士在讨论性问题时缺乏相关知识、态度保守以及存在焦虑情绪。在心理健康领域，对消费者的性取向评估不足，心理健康护士也很少对此进行探究。结果是，消费者的性取向问题继续影响他们生活的许多方面，包括他们的人际关系以及对治疗的持续投入。护士与消费者的关系为考虑性史、推广安全性行为、讨论性问题以及向患者传授性知识提供了契机。这篇文献综述指出，有必要进一步讨论这个话题，并开展研究，为心理健康护理这一重要但被忽视的领域指明方向。
