An exercise prescription primer for people with depression.

A substantial body of evidence supports the value of exercise in the treatment of people with depression. The guidelines for exercise prescription, however, are limited, and based on those developed for healthy populations. This article explores the evidence for exercise in the treatment of depression and the role mental health nurses may play in the delivery of this information. A model of exercise prescription is put forward based on the available evidence and taking into account the challenges faced by mental health nurses and people with depression.

The activities that nurses working in community mental health perform: a geographical comparison.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of the present study was to identify the activities that nurses in community mental health services undertake. METHOD: A dataset containing records of the community and ambulatory interventions involving the nursing staff of 252 mental health facilities was analysed. RESULTS: Nurses spend most of their time performing clinical care (78%), followed by clinical organisation (12%), mental health administration (6%) and integration activities (4%). There were minimal differences between treating units located in metropolitan, rural and remote areas in terms of the numbers of consumers receiving care, the time nurses spent with consumers, the types of nursing activities undertaken and the amounts of time spent on each of the four types of nursing activities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that nurses in mental health community settings spend more time in clinical care than nurses in other healthcare settings.