The International Council of Mental Health Nurses (ICMHN) exists to strengthen the visibility, recognition, leadership, and influence of mental health nurses internationally. We bring together mental health nursing leaders, educators, clinicians, researchers, students, and organisations to support universal, equitable, rights-based mental healthcare globally.
Mental health nurses comprise a substantial proportion of the global mental health workforce and play a central role in prevention, crisis intervention, therapeutic engagement, recovery-oriented care, advocacy, education, research, and systems leadership. Despite this contribution, mental health nursing continues to experience under-recognition, workforce shortages, professional marginalisation, stigma, and under-representation in policy and leadership structures globally.
ICMHN was established in response to growing international calls for collective leadership and reform in mental health nursing. Emerging from the Barcelona Mental Health Nursing Leaders’ Summit, the organisation provides a platform for international collaboration, policy influence, professional recognition, and strategic action to strengthen mental health nursing globally.
Supporting a unified international voice for mental health nursing.
Advocating for investment, retention, education, and workforce wellbeing.
Strengthening curricula, therapeutic capability, reflective practice, and advanced practice pathways.
Promoting culturally safe, trauma-informed, person-centred mental healthcare.
Supporting ethical and evidence-informed digital mental health and AI integration.
Connecting organisations, researchers, clinicians, and leaders worldwide.
