Tara Kim never planned on becoming a psychiatric nurse. In fact, when she first heard about the profession, she was on the other side of the world—backpacking across Australia and catching up with a friend by phone.
“Facebook was in its infancy, texting was expensive, and no one had internet on their phones,” she recalls with a laugh. “My friend told me she’d started the Psychiatric Nursing program at Douglas College and said, ‘Tara, you should be doing this. You’d be great at it.’ I told her I wasn’t ready to adult just yet.”
But her friend didn’t take no for an answer. She filled out an application on Tara’s behalf, and by the time Tara returned to Canada, she was enrolled.
“Honestly, I was led down this path—but I’m so grateful I was,” she says.
Carmen Hanson’s journey into psychiatric nursing began in a very different place—but with the same curiosity and compassion at heart.
“I was always interested in how the brain works,” Carmen says. “I worked in restaurants for years before I started volunteering at the crisis line. That’s when I knew I had found my passion.”
Meeting patients where they are
Fifteen years after that fateful backpacking trip, Tara is now a Clinical Nurse Educator with Providence Health Care’s Complex Intervention Response Team (CIRT)— a team that supports patients with concurrent disorders, including mental health and substance use challenges.
Carmen, also a Clinical Nurse Educator with CIRT, worked alongside Tara to help design and launch the innovative program in early 2025.
“CIRT offers a multidisciplinary approach to care,” Carmen explains. “We provide in-person mental health and addictions support at St. Paul’s Hospital, and phone consultation to Mount Saint Joseph. We work closely with care teams to deliver holistic support for complex patient needs.”
“No day is ever the same,” adds Tara. “We start by reviewing patient cases and triaging who to see first, then we connect with care teams and patients. We also provide guidance to nurses on the units, helping them feel supported when working with patients with behavioural or mental health concerns.”
Together, Tara and Carmen helped build CIRT into a collaborative, compassionate resource that supports not only patients—but the health care workers who care for them.
A team that cares—about patients and each other
Both nurses began their journey with Providence as students, completing their preceptorships at St. Paul’s Hospital—and neither wanted to leave.
“The team on 2N felt like family,” Carmen remembers.
“I’ve never felt alone here,” adds Tara. “Even on hard days, my colleagues are what keep me going.”
They describe the CIRT team as compassionate, creative, and deeply collaborative. CIRT includes not just psychiatric nurses, but also peers, Indigenous Wellness Workers, Addiction Liaison Nurses, and social workers.
“People don’t always realize how much goes into what we do,” says Tara. “We work alongside so many different teams to ensure patients receive the right care—wherever they are in their medical journey.”
Both Tara and Carmen emphasize the importance of breaking stigma and building understanding.
“Mental illness isn’t scary—it’s a treatable condition,” says Tara. “Everyone deserves compassion.”
Carmen agrees. “Mental health is health. People with mental health or substance use concerns deserve exceptional care just like anyone else. Everyone has their own story.”
Finding joy in the little moments
For all the challenges, both nurses say it’s the small, human moments that stay with them.
“When a patient remembers me, or when I can make them smile—that’s what makes it all worth it,” says Carmen. “I truly believe that psychiatric nursing is the heart of the profession.”
“Making a patient laugh, connecting with them—that’s what makes me smile,” adds Tara. “There have been so many moments over the years where I’ve left work feeling proud and happy knowing I made a difference.”
Protecting their own mental health
Outside of work, Tara and Carmen prioritize their own well-being. For Tara, her 30-minute commute acts as a natural buffer between work and home. “It gives me the space to let things go and reset,” she says. She also focuses on mindfulness, family time, and fun—something her youngest daughter is already learning in school.
Carmen sets boundaries and carves out time for yoga, meditation, and being outdoors. “And my dog, Kase,” she laughs. “Coming home to that unconditional love keeps me going.”
Breaking the stigma—one conversation at a time
For both nurses, Mental Health Week is about reflection, education, and change.
“There’s still a long way to go,” says Tara. “Anxiety and depression are more understood now, which is great—but we need to keep pushing back against the stigma.”
Carmen sees change happening, particularly in younger generations. “My teens are more comfortable talking about their feelings than I ever was. They’re into mindfulness, journaling, yoga—it gives me hope. But as a society, we still have work to do.”
Advice for the next generation
If you’re considering a career in mental health, both nurses have the same message: Do it.
“It’s exciting, dynamic, and so rewarding,” says Carmen. “Just remember to take care of yourself first. You’ll learn something new every single day.”
Tara agrees. “It’s never boring. And AI will never take over this kind of work—because people need people.”
And for anyone thinking about joining the PHC team?
“The team here is worth the commute,” says Carmen. “I’ve lived close and far, but I stay because it’s the best.”
“Just join us,” echoes Tara. “People stay here for a reason.”
Above all, they want people to remember mental health is health—and there is no shame in seeking support.
As Carmen puts it, quoting a sweatshirt gifted to her by a colleague: “Be kind to your mind. Mental health matters.”
Join us in supporting mental health—because people need people.
Whether you’re thinking about a career in mental health or looking for a way to make a difference, there’s a place for you at Providence Health Care. Learn more about our open roles and discover how you can help change lives from the inside out.
Want to support the CIRT team and the impactful work they do every day? Your donation helps ensure patients receive compassionate, comprehensive care when they need it most.
Donate to Mental Health Services at Providence
Together, we can break the stigma, build connections, and show that mental health matters—today and every day.
