The client with a mental illness, the ED waiting room and stigma : [invited paper]

This paper examines the perspectives of ED and mental health triage nurses as they relate to the management of clients with a mental illness in ED waiting rooms and stigmatisation. This perspectives are then assessed against theories of stigma and suggestions are made about how to best manage clients waiting to be seen by mental health professionals. Findings suggest that while ED and mental health triage nurses have differing perspectives on how waiting clients should be manged, both groups are mindful of stigma and seek to reduce the negative effects of stigmatisation.