The world's highest ranked mental health nursing journal is edited by Professor Brenda Happell, Director of CQUniversity's Institute for Health and Social Science Research (IHSSR)...

Professor Happell is proud to be Editor of the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing which has received a comparative impact factor also ranking it in the top 20 of academic nursing journals worldwide. She was appointed in 2004 after being encouraged to apply for the role.

"This is not a solo effort and many people have contributed to this outcome including previous editors of this journal and its predecessors, the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and its predecessors, the Editorial Boards past and present, those who have volunteered their time to review manuscripts, and of course the authors who present such important and influential work," Professor Happell said.

Professor Brenda Happell ... years of effort pays off with journal impact success

The Rockhampton-based Professor of Contemporary Nursing says the journal covers a broad range of issues, including the most appropriate educational preparation for mental health nursing and ways to address current and likely future workforce needs.

"We also examine practice issues such as physical health for people with mental illness (particularly pertinent given the life expectancy of people diagnosed with mental illness is 20-25 years less than the general population).

"Contributors seek to minimise the use of coercive practices in mental health and discuss ways to involve service users in the design, delivery and evaluation of services, to mention just a few."

Apart from her academic, research and journal interests, Professor Happell will also play a major role in the emerging Collaborative Research Networks partnerships, which will be coordinated from the IHSSR to deliver better regional health outcomes.