Communication Strategies Within the Mental Health Context-The Evidence for Nurses, Midwives, and Social Workers. A Rapid Review.

Effective communication in mental health settings is central to compassionate, ethical, and person-centred care. For nurses, midwives, and social workers, communication underpins trust, assessment accuracy, and recovery-oriented practice. This rapid review explored evidence-based communication strategies used by these disciplines within adult mental health contexts. Following PRISMA-ScR and JBI methodology, 18 studies published between 2015 and 2025 were analysed. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool. Three overarching themes emerged: professional mechanisms (reflective management, intuition, pre-planning, rapport building), professional behaviours (presence, authenticity, non-verbal communication, humour), and professional responses (validation, individualised approaches, strengths-based care). Across studies, effective communication consistently enhanced therapeutic engagement, reduced distress, and supported recovery. Educational interventions, such as e-learning, improved empathic communication but required ongoing reinforcement. Findings underscore communication as a teachable, modifiable skill integral to safe, high-quality mental health care. This review is essential reading for novice nurses, midwives, and social workers entering mental health settings, offering practical, evidence-informed guidance to optimise therapeutic interactions and promote recovery-focused practice.