Mental health nurses are Registered Nurses (RN) who specialise in working with people around their mental health and emotional wellbeing. You can check a nurses’ registration status by searching for their name and profession on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) website.

Mental health nurses are trained in medical nursing and in psychological therapy and behaviour management. Many mental health nurses have additional qualifications and training in specific types of therapy.

The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) Credentials mental health nurses as specialist providers. To hold a MHN Credential, nurses must be a Registered Nurse, demonstrate that they have specialist mental health qualifications, ongoing professional development and practice in the specialty field. You can check whether a nurse is a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse by contacting the ACMHN.