Abstract

Background: Nurses sustain essential preventive, curative, rehabilitative and community health services, yet their psychological well-being is frequently compromised by sustained workload, rotating shifts, emotional labour, violence, insufficient staffing and limited organizational support. Occupational stress and burnout coexist with symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, compassion fatigue and trauma-related distress. These conditions matter not only for individual well-being but also for workforce retention, continuity of care and patient safety. Objective: To synthesize the principal occupational mental health challenges described in nursing literature, examine relevant contextual influences in India and identify feasible individual, institutional and policy responses. Methods: This narrative review critically reorganized an author-supplied educational article on nurses’ mental health and contextualized its themes using selected international research, conceptual publications and Indian policy documents. The review was not a systematic review or meta-analysis; no participant recruitment, primary data collection or pooled statistical estimation was undertaken. Findings: Eight overlapping concern areas were identified: occupational stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, compassion fatigue, post-traumatic stress symptoms, sleep disturbance and maladaptive coping. Contributing influences were classified as workplace, organizational and social determinants. Potential consequences extend across nurse functioning, patient care and health-system performance. A practical prevention framework combines safer staffing, predictable schedules, anti-violence procedures, confidential psychological support, supportive supervision, peer networks, resilience education and access to referral services. Psychiatric and mental health nurses have an important role in screening, referral, staff education and stigma reduction.
Interpretation: Estimates quoted in the study varied widely and lacked traceable study-level denominators; they should not be interpreted as pooled prevalence or India-specific estimates. Stronger local epidemiological studies and intervention evaluations are needed. Conclusion: Protecting nurses’ mental health requires system-level improvements alongside voluntary, confidential and accessible individual support. Mental health initiatives should be embedded in occupational safety, quality improvement and nursing leadership rather than treated as isolated wellness activities. This approach may support a sustainable nursing workforce and safer, more compassionate care.