2026 Volume 13 Pages 35-42
This study aims to examine, through a case study design, the mental health support process provided by a Certified Nurse Specialist in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing in a case where early intervention enabled a nurse with depression to return to work within a short period. The goal is to clarify the key aspects of mental health support for nursing professionals.
The support began with establishing a collaborative relationship by communicating the CNS’s role as an ally and fostering a sense of safety. Subsequently, by identifying the core issues underlying the client’s concerns, the intervention focused on encouraging the client to take ownership without exacerbating their mental condition. In addition, the support was tailored to the client’s recovery trajectory, incorporating the client’s preferences while strategically intervening at the organizational level based on a comprehensive assessment to facilitate return to work.
Maintaining constructive relationships with both the client and the organization from an early stage, together with responsive interventions that supported the gradual restoration of autonomy, is considered to have prevented further deterioration and enabled a timely return to work.
