Letie Unfolded: A Relational Movement to Empower Flemish Mental Health Nursing and a Tribute to Hildegard Peplau

Abstract

This paper outlines a strategic approach to strengthen the expertise and skills of mental health nurses. It addresses the ongoing (r)evolutions in how generic nursing standards are being integrated into nursing curricula. Focusing on Flanders in Belgium, it explores the decline of specialised mental health nursing education and its implications for advanced practice nursing at the master's level. Central to this discussion is 'Letie', a newly established Belgian non-profit organisation founded in 2023. Letie aims to inspire and empower professional cohesion within mental health nursing by fostering collaboration, innovation, knowledge sharing, research and professional development. Reflecting on Letie's first year of operation, the paper draws on the author's experiences and vision to propose pathways for advancing the profession, while promoting resilience and adaptability in the face of educational and professional challenges. It seeks to engage mental health nursing professionals working in clinical practice, education and research in a meaningful dialogue about future directions for the discipline.