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As someone who has personally struggled with mental illness, this topic really appealed to me. I was in the era of kids growing up into a new world where mental illness began to become more closely regarded as a debilitating condition just as much as any physical impairment would. Still, there is stigma associated with mental illness and some things cannot be understood unless you directly experience them. This is the part of the ‘invisible illness’ I wanted to explore.

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During my time in clinical settings throughout the semester I was able to discern the importance of interdisciplinary and peer collaboration. Not only does collaboration result in fewer hospital related errors, but it also fosters unit morale and as a result, improved job satisfaction. When not just nurses, but all health professionals work together there is a sense of accomplishment and improved patient outcomes. Teamwork is the basis of nursing and on many occasions I have been told while in a hospital unit that “we are all a team” and everyone is available to help out.

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Throughout the semester we discussed the difference between ‘care and caring’ which is where this topic arises from. Caring makes all the difference in patients’ lives and one moment that we may discount as minor in the grand scheme of things for ourselves may be pivotal for someone else. As nurses we will see individual’s in some of their darkest times, offering comfort beyond just physical tasks of nursing can make someone feel respected and heard in their time of need. Compassionate care can also improve patient outcomes. I believe it is integral to our role as nurses to always keep in mind where others have been and what they have been through to get where they are today.

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Breastfeeding displays a beautiful connection between mother and child.  Proper teachings are necessary for effective breastfeeding and can result in less emotional turmoil for the mom and improved health for the baby. Throughout this semester I learned the importance of displaying both options as viable (being breastfeeding versus formula feeding) as to not cause guilt in parents for choosing one option over another. I respect the choices of all patients and formula feeding does not cause harm to the baby in any way and is a completely viable option to be presented to a new mother. There are also various medical conditions that make breastfeeding impossible and that I recognize. Personally, I am an advocate for breastfeeding and the properties it offers for the newborn as well as the postpartum benefits for the mother. This however will not cloud my judgment in my nursing practice when educating new mothers on feeding practices since some mothers have voiced that they feel ashamed when they do not breastfeed. All of this to say that this was an interesting topic for me to cover relative to my personal interests.

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Prior to my mental health placement I still believed that electroconvulsive therapy wasn’t in use because of its barbaric nature. This shows the stigma that still exists around ECT treatments today despite their highly beneficial nature in psychiatric disorders. This revelation also allowed for self reflection regarding all of the things I still do not know about healthcare that I wish to learn. ECT is used in the treatment of depression, schizophrenia, and more in alleviating symptoms affecting daily life. I chose this topic due to how little knowledge I had prior to my placement and how it evolved over time.

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I received this tattoo a few years ago as a my own personal 'anxiety reminder'. Since I myself am diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, there were many instances that this word arose in personal coping through panic attacks. Research has shown that the act of getting tattooed can be a symbol of the healing process and can be perceived as a symbol of change.(McCandlish & Pearson, 2023). This tattoo holds personal meaning and will be a permanent 'souvenir' of my journey.

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Art gallery in Alberta showing Robin Williams, Aretha Franklin, Albert Einstein and more who have struggled with invisible illness.

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Artifact Two: Artwork Depicting Invisible Illnesses

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Artifact Two: Artwork Depicting Invisible Illnesses

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This art gallery was actually presented in Calgary, Alberta and was used as a memento to those who have struggled with invisible illness (CBC, 2019). Now, invisible illness does not just constitute mental health issues and can also include autism, epilepsy, and more. This art gallery is beautiful in it's way of bringing light to celebrities and people of prominence in society who have also struggled with these illnesses. A way of saying 'you are not alone'.

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Artifact- Mental Health Invisible Illness

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This is a fascinating depiction of schizophrenia and more specifically, psychosis. This video displays some symptoms that a person with schizophrenia may experience on a daily basis. It is important to keep in mind that not all symptoms may be experienced by all individuals but many people have noted it's accuracy. I thought that this was an interesting video to include as part of an invisible illness since we have no idea what may be going on inside someone's head at any given time.

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Bridging Minds: Schizophrenia Installation Video (3D Sound | Headphones Required)

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This was a piece of artwork I created by means of digital art. In my analysis, I associated the act of pollination and the fact it is a small part of a larger effect on our ecosystem, with the effect that nurses have on their patients. Nurses are all part of a larger team working towards the goal of effective and compassionate patient care. There are many benefits associated with teamwork in nursing including but not limited to: increased job satisfaction, improved work-life balance, decreased work-related stress, better patient outcomes etc. (Bragadottir, 2023).

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I thought that this quote beautifully captured the essence of compassion, not just in nursing, but in our day-to-day lives. As one of the 5 C's in nursing, compassion is essential in practice and is important not only for our patients, but for ourselves. This quote, if we relate it back to nursing practice, focuses on the aspect that quality of care is ranked above quantity which is important to keep in mind as I enter the nursing profession.

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This image exemplifies the possible breastfeeding positions and is quite educational for a new mother. It is also useful for nurses like myself wanting to offer evidence-informed education to their patients. I feel as if this image also emphasizes the importance of patient education in breastfeeding and relates back to the importance of helping new mothers through this stressful period of time.

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Artifact Two: Baby Friendly Initiative Ontario

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Artifact Two: Baby Friendly Initiative Ontario

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This website is the homepage for the baby friendly initiative of Ontario. I was first told about this initiative at my maternal child placement and learned that the hospital has adopted and started implementing it's goals and values in patient care. What that involved for the hospital was having lactation specialists on the floor and having staff become more knowledgeable on the benefits of breastfeeding in order to offer complete and informed patient education. This website is a great resource when wanting to learn about what this not-for-profit organization does and their overall mission and goals. The website also documents the by-laws associated with the initiative and the hospitals that are BFI designated.

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Baby Friendly Initiative Ontario - The Provincial Authority for the Baby-Friendly Initiative

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Baby-Friendly Initiative Ontario (BFION) is a multidisciplinary committee consisting of health care professionals, service providers and consumers within Ontario who are interested in protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding by implementation of the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada's (BCC) BFI Outcome Indicators.

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Artifact One: Informational Brochure on Electroconvulsive Therapy

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Artifact One: Informational Brochure on Electroconvulsive Therapy

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This brochure was received as part of an information session on ECT at my mental health placement. While attending the session, the instructor discussed the stigma surrounding ECT and how different it is from the myths that circulate. We were able to observe the wiring and technology that is applied to someone for a treatment and it was quite beneficial to learn about. I felt as if this brochure was good to include as a representation of the education that supports ECT therapy and how it can be used to alleviate stigma regarding the treatment. Although, according to research, the reasoning behind the stigma does not have the facts to blame but rather the loss of autonomy that accompanies mental illness (Paris, 2022).

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This image is of an Electroconvulsive Therapy treatment room and most closely resembles the one we were in at placement. I think this image is important to add to display how it is not a scary place and resembles a simple treatment room. Personally, my mind goes to a dark basement room with electricity heard nearby, that is how uneducated I was on this form of treatment.

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Artifact Two: Image Displaying the Power of Teamwork & Collaboration

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Artifact Two: Image Displaying the Power of Teamwork & Collaboration

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I thought this image beautifully displayed the concept of collaboration and teamwork and how every person is an important part of the 'puzzle'. This image mirrors the importance of interdisciplinary communication as well, where the whole picture is not complete without each part. Each profession on it's own is proven as insufficient for the all encompassing patient care which is why communication is so highly emphasized in nursing education (Zumstein-Shaha, 2023). Effective teamwork and collaboration leads to person and patient-centred care that is sought after in the nursing profession.

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Artifact Two: TED Talk on Compassion Fatigue: Juliette Watt

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Artifact Two: TED Talk on Compassion Fatigue: Juliette Watt

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On the other end of compassion, there is compassion fatigue. Juliette Watt discusses the effects of compassion fatigue and how they may come about. She mentions that if you are taking care of others, then this risk is even higher. She does however mention, that it can happen to anybody and occurs as a result of taking on another's feelings as your own. I thought it was interesting to explore both ends of the spectrum when it comes to compassion. It is a common topic that nurses experience burnout and compassion fatigue is a huge factor in the development of this. Now, this is not to deter a nurse from being a compassionate person, and it certainly will not deter me, but it is important to discuss in terms of recognizing the signs and early intervention.

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Compassion Fatigue: What is it and do you have it? | Juliette Watt | TEDxFargo

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Marginalization & Mental Health:

Menezes, I. R., Uchida, R. R., Tenorio, D. S., Araújo, J. E., Rolim Lima, N. N., Lopes, G. C., & Rolim Neto, M. L. (2022). The helplessness and invisibility of the mental health of homeless people in Brazil. The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 15, 100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100368

Nursing students mental health:

Roach, A., & Tadesse, R. (2023). “It is OK Not to Be OK”: Nursing students’ backgrounds and perceptions of mental health stigma and implications for Mental Health Nursing Education. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 44(10), 1050–1058. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2023.2265470

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Artifact Three: ECT Disrupting the Stigma Video

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Artifact Three: ECT Disrupting the Stigma Video

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This video is powerful in explaining the benefits that can come from ECT treatments. It actually goes through a play-by-play of a day experiencing an ECT treatment and goes on to discuss the long-term effects and benefits seen by patients who have undergone ECT. Psychiatrists think that showing these videos can break the stigma and make patients and caregivers more comfortable in recommending this procedure (Parth et. al, 2022).

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ECT: Disrupting the Stigma Around An Essential Treatment Option

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Artifact Three: Lean on Me by Bill Withers

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Artifact Three: Lean on Me by Bill Withers

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Lean on me by Bill Withers is a powerful song that displays the importance of human connection. For me, it holds a special place since I correlate it with singing with all of my friends in elementary school- reminding me of the joy and strength that came from being there together. This song also displays that it is okay to ask for help when you need it. It is our goal as nurses to help those in need and offer yourself as someone to 'lean on' when patients are going through some of their most challenging times.

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Welcome to the Echoes and Artifacts podcast presented by your favourite nursing student: Sydni Mancini :)

Join me as we explore five topics relating to family health nursing with a focus on maternal child and mental health care !

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CBC. (2019, September 14). “Your life has meaning, it has worth”: Artist highlights invisible illnesses in Calgary exhibits | CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/art-calgary-mental-illness-disabilities-hidden-diseases-1.5278490

McCandlish, C., & Pearson, M. (2023). Tattoos as symbols – an exploration of the relationship between tattoos and mental health. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 18(3), 217–227. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmhtep-07-2022-0057

Menezes, I. R., Uchida, R. R., Tenorio, D. S., Araújo, J. E., Rolim Lima, N. N., Lopes, G. C., & Rolim Neto, M. L. (2022). The helplessness and invisibility of the mental health of homeless people in Brazil. The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, 15, 100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100368

Roach, A., & Tadesse, R. (2023). “It is OK Not to Be OK”: Nursing students’ backgrounds and perceptions of mental health stigma and implications for Mental Health Nursing Education. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 44(10), 1050–1058. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2023.2265470

YouTube. (2012, February 8). Bridging Minds: Schizophrenia Installation Video (3D Sound  | Headphones Required). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyYmbvKlSg

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Teamwork and Job Satisfaction:

Bragadottir, H., Kalisch, B. J., Flygenring, B. G., & Tryggvadottir, G. B. (2023). The relationship of nursing teamwork  and job satisfaction in Hospitals. SAGE Open Nursing, 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608231175027

Interdisciplinary Care:

Zumstein‐Shaha, M., & Grace, P. J. (2022). Competency frameworks, nursing perspectives, and interdisciplinary collaborations for good patient care: Delineating boundaries. Nursing Philosophy, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12402

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Welcome back to the Echoes and Artifacts podcast, this episode discusses collaboration and teamwork in nursing care!

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Bragadottir, H., Kalisch, B. J., Flygenring, B. G., & Tryggvadottir, G. B. (2023). The relationship of nursing teamwork  and job satisfaction in Hospitals. SAGE Open Nursing, 9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608231175027

Mashek, D. (2022, June 23). Collaboration is a Key Skill. So Why Aren’t We Teaching It? MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/collaboration-is-a-key-skill-so-why-arent-we-teaching-it

Zumstein‐Shaha, M., & Grace, P. J. (2022). Competency frameworks, nursing perspectives, and interdisciplinary collaborations for good patient care: Delineating boundaries. Nursing Philosophy, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12402

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Compassion Fatigue:

Barron, D. (2023). Burned Out on Burnout? Strategies to Combat Compassion Fatigue in Nursing. Oklahoma Nurse, 68(4), 10. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A774988739/AONE?u=ocul_thomas&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=4109642d

Compassion in Nursing Students:

Younas, A., & Maddigan, J. (2019). Proposing a policy framework for nursing education for fostering compassion in nursing students: A critical review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(8), 1621–1636. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13946

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Welcome back to the Echoes and Artifacts podcast, this episode discusses compassion in nursing care!

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Barron, D. (2023). Burned Out on Burnout? Strategies to Combat Compassion Fatigue in Nursing. Oklahoma Nurse, 68(4), 10. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A774988739/AONE?u=ocul_thomas&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=4109642d

Younas, A., & Maddigan, J. (2019). Proposing a policy framework for nursing education for fostering compassion in nursing students: A critical review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(8), 1621–1636. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13946

YouTube. (2018, November 26). Compassion Fatigue: What is it and do you have it? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-4m35Gixno

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Social Aspect:

Morse, H., & Brown, A. (2021). Accessing local support online: Mothers’ experiences of local breastfeeding support Facebook groups. Maternal &amp; Child Nutrition, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13227

Biological Aspect:

Panjkota Krbavcic, I., & Vukomanovic, A. (2021). Breastfeeding: Health benefits and dietary recommendations. Croatian Journal of Food Technology, Biotechnology and Nutrition, 16(1–2), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.31895/hcptbn.16.1-2.1

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Welcome to the fourth episode of the Echoes and Artifacts podcast where we discuss patient education in regards to breastfeeding!

Thank you for listening :)

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Morse, H., & Brown, A. (2021). Accessing local support online: Mothers’ experiences of local breastfeeding support Facebook groups. Maternal &amp; Child Nutrition, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13227

Panjkota Krbavcic, I., & Vukomanovic, A. (2021). Breastfeeding: Health benefits and dietary recommendations. Croatian Journal of Food Technology, Biotechnology and Nutrition, 16(1–2), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.31895/hcptbn.16.1-2.1

The Provincial Authority for the baby-friendly initiative. Baby Friendly Initiative Ontario. (2019). https://www.bfiontario.ca/

https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/breastfeeding

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Psychiatrist Attitudes Towards ECT Stigma:

Nagda, P., Harshe, D., Karia, S., Harshe, S., Harshe, G., Shah, N., & de Sousa, A. (2022). A study of psychiatrists’ attitudes and concerns toward the practice and stigma associated with electroconvulsive therapy. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, 38(1), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_127_20

Why ECT is still so stigmatized:

Paris, J. (2021). Why electroconvulsive therapy still carries a stigma. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 220(3), 113–114. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2021.135

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Welcome to the last episode of the Echoes and Artifacts podcast! Thank you if you have listened this far and I hope you all have a wonderful day :)

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Nagda, P., Harshe, D., Karia, S., Harshe, S., Harshe, G., Shah, N., & de Sousa, A. (2022). A study of psychiatrists’ attitudes and concerns toward the practice and stigma associated with electroconvulsive therapy. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry, 38(1), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_127_20

Paris, J. (2021). Why electroconvulsive therapy still carries a stigma. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 220(3), 113–114. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2021.135

Youtube. (2022, February 24). ECT: Disrupting the Stigma Around An Essential Treatment Option. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk_FjhitKDI