Being admitted to a mental health unit can be one of the most vulnerable moments in a person’s life. They often arrive in the midst of a crisis, and are fearful, confused and anxious. But in these situations, one thing can profoundly affect their experience: the relationship established with the nurses who attend them, especially in the first days.

While it may seem secondary to medical treatments or clinical decisions, the therapeutic relationship – meaning the collaborative bond between patient and nurse – has a greater impact than previously thought.

Our study, carried out in 12 Spanish mental health units, demonstrated that this relationship is not always built in the way we might think.

We analysed how both patients and nursing professionals perceived the therapeutic relationship in the first days after a patient was hospitalised. The results were significant. While nurses tended to positively evaluate the relationship, patients were less satisfied. There was a gap between how the care was perceived and how that care actually felt for those receiving it.

There are three key reasons for this difference: communication, trust and participation. Patients especially value feeling heard, understanding what is happening to them and, above all, having a say in decisions about their treatment.

It is not just a question of receiving attention, but of playing an active role in the whole process. One of the most important things for........

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