Written to meet the needs of students seeking the Diploma in Nursing, and for qualified and returning nurses, this text traces human emotional development within the community as a starting point, and focuses on individual needs in a culturally diverse world. Care of people with mental-health problems demands wide insights, a broad body of knowledge and a range of specialist skills; it is easy not only to misunderstand the nature of the problems but to cause harm. This is illustrated by a service-care user in the early part of the book, the inclusion of a tale of poor practice offering readers an insight into the client's view and feelings. The 23 authors redress the balance in describing the skills which can be developed in the relief of mental distress. Throughout the book, theory and practice are illustrated with accounts of examples of care in different settings, providing opportunities for the reader to link personal experience with that of the writer. The writers were selected from centres throughout the United Kingdom to contribute a spectrum of specialist knowledge from their wide experience of working with clients and their families, and with teaching students. This text is based on the principles of syllabus for the mental-health nursing branch of nursing education in the UK (Project 2000) and is suitable for this level of course worldwide.