Ethical responsibility for the community's mental health: a professional nursing role.
OBJECTIVE
A review of data from multiple sources indicates a decline in support services for children and families, and an increase in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders as well as psychosocial problems among children. A discussion of trends reveals reforms that are reducing all healthcare expenditures and limiting the provision of publicly funded services.


OBJECTIVE
To discuss the essential values of professional nursing and considers them as a basis for needed nursing action.


CONCLUSIONS
Individual nurses have an ethical responsibility to take social, political, and economic actions to enhance community mental health. Specific strategies and approaches for doing so are presented.
Long
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D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D002669:Child Welfare; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D012941:Social Responsibility