MENTAL health nurses have been speaking about what inspired them to pursue a challenging but rewarding profession.

Staff members at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) have been reflecting on their decision to mark the first Mental Health Nurses’ Day, which is today (Thursday, February 21).

The initiative, organised by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Mental Health Forum, is partly a response to a drop in mental health nursing staff in the UK.

Joe Lewis, who is based at Glan Clwyd Hospital’s Ablett Psychiatric Unit in Bodelwyddan, said: "I love the profession of mental health nursing as it allows us to help individuals who are in a point in their life where they greatly deserve help and input.

"It allows us to offer positive outcomes for people, which could potentially increase their quality of life."

A mum once credited Joe for saving her life; Sue Rogers, 37, was intent on ending her life in the summer of 2017 and made her way to a bridge over the A55 after being consumed by feelings of hopelessness.

Her life was saved Joe, who was off-duty at the time, made his way through the queuing traffic and a police cordon to talk to her.

She had come to know Joe from her time as a patient on the Ablett unit.

"The job makes me more grateful in life," he added.

"Everyone has mental health, whether its positive or negative and as nursing we enjoy making that a more normal and acceptable concept, remembering that despite mental health we are all people."

Steve Forsyth, of Rhyl, director of Nursing for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities, has been with the health board since July last year.

“When people ask me why did I want to become a nurse? I always answer that it is in my DNA,” he said.

“My mum is a nurse and continues to practice today. She is my role model and she continues to adapt to new technology, systems and always keeps her continuous professional development bang on with the latest evidence based practice.

"My mum came to England not being able to speak English and wearing only the clothes she had on. She often tells stories of landing at Heathrow and having to leave the airport to go and buy a coat before she could do anything.

"I admire her resilience and determination bringing up my brother and I and working nights to maintain the profession she loves.

"My dad laughed and made fun of me when I told him I wanted to be a nurse, but my mum didn't. She smiled and said "you love people".

"I was barely 17 and she came with me to meet the principal lecturer at Wolverhampton University. In his concluding remarks he said -welcome to mental health."

Andy Roach, director of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities at BCUHB, said: "I left school and got an apprenticeship as an engineer. But six months into that I realised that it wasn’t for me, so I took the decision to apply to study nursing.

"As I’m from a working class background, this was a bit of a shock to the system for my family, particularly my Father, but it was something that I really wanted to do, and I’ve never looked back."

According to statistics from the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the number of mental health nurses fell from 90,693 to 88,821 between 2014 and 2018.

Gary Doherty, who joined the health board as chief executive in February 2016, said: "A very big thank you and a congratulations to all our mental health nurses.

"So today is the very first mental health nurses' day.

"We have got about 700 mental health nurses who are out there right now on our wards and community supporting people through difficulties. It is a difficult job but it is a fantastic job they do."

Catherine Gamble, RCN Mental Health Professional Lead, said: “Raising the profile of our profession at a time when mental health is a UK-wide priority couldn’t be more timely.

“I hope organisations and individuals will consider ways to celebrate Mental Health Nurses’ Day as, every day, mental health nurses go above and beyond."