My Career in Occupational Health: A Mental Health Nurse’s Perspective

Mental health nurse Alex Rhind shares his journey into occupational health, highlighting its preventive value, workplace impact, and rewarding opportunities.

Introduction

When I first started my nursing career, I would never have imagined that I would one day be writing about occupational health (OH). At the beginning of my journey, I had understood little of what it was or why it mattered, but over time, working in the field showed me the value it brings to people across various workplaces. I want to share my journey from mental health nursing to OH and inspire more nurses to explore what this profession can offer.

Starting Out In Mental Health

I trained as a mental health nurse, qualifying in 2014 and before this, I worked as a support worker in a range of mental health settings. My first post was on a male acute ward in London. This was a high-pressure environment with patients experiencing significant distress. I learned how to assess and manage risk, maintain safety, and build rapport in a short space of time.

Moving Into Leadership

As I progressed into leadership roles such as Charge Nurse, Ward Manager, and later Modern Matron, the balance of my work began to shift. While direct clinical care remained important, my focus shifted to wider systems, processes, and supporting staff amid the pressures of the job. My remit included managing HR processes, overseeing recruitment, resolving complaints, and providing support when colleagues faced particularly demanding situations.

The Pandemic And A Shift In Perspective

The pandemic, as we all experienced, was a challenging time. It brought enormous pressure, stress, and burnout among those on the wards and the leadership team. During this time, I saw an increase in referrals to OH, and I found myself referring mental health nurses who were often struggling with their own mental health. The reports I received from occupational health nurses were of high quality but came from colleagues with general nursing backgrounds. There was scope to strengthen the mental health focus. That is where my interest in OH began.

Discovering Occupational Health

Alongside this, my leadership experience increased my interest in the connection between health and work. I became more focused on how adjustments, support, and clear HR processes could influence staff wellbeing, especially in high-pressure environments. Over time, I realised my passion was moving from clinical care toward the intersection of health, work, and organisational systems. This naturally led me to OH.

I was signposted to Pippa Crouch, Clinical Director at Global Occupational Health Services (OHS), who, after an extremely helpful and inspiring conversation, directed me to the right course and the right people. She also offered me a position within the business. In 2021, I began training as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) in OH.

Early OH Experience

I initially worked as an OH advisor with Global OHS and, alongside this, began offering specialist mental health assessments to other providers. It was important to me at that stage to build experience across a broad range of conditions, and with support from the team at Global, my knowledge of physical health developed significantly during this time. I trained in health surveillance and gained my Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) qualification, providing a solid foundation in core occupational health practice.

Developing A Mental Health Focus In OH

Global OHS promoted me to Clinical Mental Health Manager, where I led on standardising our approach to mental health consultations, ensuring robust boundaries and strengthening the services we offered to businesses. This included mental health training for managers. One of my biggest passions in OH has been bringing my knowledge in mental health assessment and moving beyond simple risk assessment to focus on risk formulation and positive risk-taking. I created comprehensive training for OH staff, which GTS MedOH delivers.

Why Occupational Health Matters

OH is the point where prevention and care come together.

In mental health services, I often met people at their lowest, and I would often see them leave still far from their baseline. In Occupational health, I can step in earlier and for longer. My role involves conducting assessments, producing clear reports, and supporting both individuals and organisations to manage health risks, understand complex conditions in easy-to-understand ways, and identify what may help in the workplace.

I use my knowledge of clinical pathways to escalate concerns and secure the right support in primary and secondary services. Many of the employees I see through OH have had little or no contact with healthcare services. Being able to offer them direct advice and support has been one of the most meaningful parts of the role.

A Message to Other Nurses

For nurses, particularly those working in mental health, considering their next step, do not overlook OH. It is a field where your skills in assessment, communication, and managing complex situations are useful. I have become incredibly enthusiastic about the field, and it is the best decision I have made for my quality of life, stress levels, and career prospects. It challenges and pushes me in a way that feels rewarding without harming my health.

What I value most is my autonomy in clinical practice, the ability to follow the employee healthcare journey from start to finish, and to see the difference my input makes for individuals and organisations. For me, nursing is integral to who I am, and occupational health embodies the essence of nursing, viewing the whole person while protecting, promoting, and improving health.

About the author

Alex Rhind is a Clinical Mental Health Manager for Global Occupational Health Services.

He is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (OH).