Student Nurse of the Year: Mental Health

Gertrude Amankona Buckinghamshire New University

Gertrude is an outstanding mental health nursing student, whose professionalism is unparalleled. She is resilient and has overcome many challenges whilst maintaining A grades in her academic studies. Gertrude has a passion for supporting people from global majority backgrounds to access mental health care. She acts as an advocate for her patients and her peers, going the extra mile for anyone she encounters. She is dedicated, passionate and committed to being the best possible mental health nurse.

Morgan Dennison Ulster University

Morgan Dennison is a third year Student Mental Health Nurse at Ulster University Magee Campus. He is extremely passionate and committed to the Mental Health Nursing Profession. He has demonstrated the values and interpersonal communication skills required to make an impact on service users and their families. He has received exceptional feedback from service users, families, and colleagues in clinical practice. He has received a letter of thanks from the Managing Director of the Health Care Trust, the 'Greatix Award', has been named on the academic 'Deans List', and has been an ambassador for the university on public insight occasions.

Ciara Devine Queen's University Belfast

Ciara is an outstanding mental health nursing student who excels in professionalism, dedication, and compassion. Ciara applies evidence-based knowledge to ensure the best patient outcomes and fosters collaborative relationships. Her strong communication skills, empathy, and respect build trust with patients. Ciara demonstrates exceptional teamwork skills, contributing positively to multidisciplinary teams. Overcoming a life-threatening experience, she now motivates others through training and education. Academically, she balances rigor with compassionate care, setting an example for peers. As a well-being ambassador, she advocates for her peers. Ciara’s growth mindset, reflective practice, and passion for nursing make her an outstanding candidate.

Rebecca Diamond Liverpool John Moores University

Over the past year, I’ve made significant strides in both my personal and professional growth. In early 2024, while balancing a challenging course, I managed a caseload during a placement, independently presenting a social circumstances report at a tribunal where the judge praised my work. This led to being awarded ‘Outstanding Contribution in a Placement Setting’ by Liverpool John Moore's University, nominated by staff, peers, and a service user. I also won ‘Student of the Month’ in August. These achievements have proven my resilience, dedication, and ability to succeed, even in challenging situations, reaffirming my confidence in reaching my goals.

Darren Gartland University of Cumbria

As a mental health nursing graduate who overcame personal struggles, Darren has become an innovative advocate for mental health support in Cumbria. By helping to establish Andy's Man Club in the county, a men's suicide prevention charity offering free peer-to-peer support groups and contributing to a pioneering student-led mobile health clinic, Darren transformed personal challenges into professional passion and achievement. His journey demonstrates resilience, compassion, and the power of lived experience in healthcare. Darren's story can inspire others facing mental health challenges. His unique perspective blends lived experience with professional knowledge, enhancing his ability to provide truly empathetic person-centred care and develop transformative support initiatives.

Kirsten Jackson Edge Hill University

I am a mental health nursing student at Edge Hill University. I have developed a passion around creating positive change within the mental health field. I have been dedicated in bringing trauma informed practice to the curriculum at Edge Hill University and I believe there needs to be a paradigm shift in our approach to trauma informed practice within mental health nursing. Student nurses are instrumental in positive change and this starts at university level. I am now working with university to change the curriculum to strengthen trauma informed training to all student nurses across all fields.

Cat Podmore University of Salford

Cat has gone the extra mile throughout her course to be a role model for student mental health nursing, demonstrating how the more you put into practice learning experiences, the more you get out. She made an impact changing the culture in the learning environment for fellow and future students. She improved service delivery with a change management intervention. Cat's vibrancy, emotional awareness, coupled with exemplary interpersonal and communication skills have had a lasting impact on service users/clients, their families, staff, and fellow students. Cat is a student mental health nurse who brings light to any environment she finds herself.

Eleanor Wilkinson University of Plymouth

My nursing journey has been one of resilience and growth. Overcoming challenges, I found purpose through volunteering, research, and reflection. I designed a CAMHS sensory room, mentored in surf therapy, and created resources to support future student nurses. Recognised with Wow Awards and being offered an undergraduate research internship, I’ve excelled academically and contributed to impactful research on eating disorders, neurodiversity, and nursing education. My experiences have shaped me into the nurse I aspire to be—a nurse who understands the complexities of mental health, stands up for others, and believes in the incredible power of compassion and connecting with people.