Considering alternatives: Student nurses slipping directly from lay beliefs to the medical model of mental illness

SummaryWhen student nurses enter higher education establishments to commence their nurse education it is expected that they would hold lay beliefs of mental health and mental illness. Lay beliefs are generally informed by the medical model of mental health. It is argued that there are many other beliefs and approaches to mental health that student nurses (of all branches) should consider before graduating into the health care world dominated by the medical model of mental health and mental illness. A number of other approaches and theories are summarised and offered as examples to student nurses for their consideration.