As students reflected on how
this experience changed their
view of mental illness, one student
admitted she came into
the clinical experience with a
negative view of mental illness
but said her time spent with her
client “helped me see them in a
different way…. My attitude has
completely changed and it is now
positive.” As she talked about
her client’s difficult situation, she
said, “I feel like I wish I could
help him more…. Talking to him
about his life and everything really
made me appreciate my life
more.” This student felt strongly
that education about mental illness
helped change her attitude,
saying, “People definitely need
more education.” Another student
who grew up with a family
member with mental illness reflected
on the way she generalized
mental illness and discussed
how her experience in psychiatric
nursing had allowed her to see
things on “a case by case basis.”