**2.2 Coping strategies**

Coping strategies typically involve a conscious and direct approach to problems, in contrast to defence mechanisms [12]. In this chapter, coping strategies refer to a conscious and direct approach used by nurses of all categories when they care for MHCUs who are diagnosed and admitted due to SUDs.

#### **2.3 Mental health care user (MHCUs)**

Mental health care user (MHCUs) refers to a person who is receiving care, treatment and rehabilitation services or utilising the health care services at designated health establishments that are aimed at enhancing the mental health status of users, mentally ill prisoners and state patients. When the person concerned is under the age of 18 years, or incapable of making decisions, MHCU may include the prospective user, the user's next of kin, or any person who is authorised by any law or court order to act on the behalf of that person, an executor of the diseased person's estate or an administrator appointed in terms of the Mental Health Care Act [14]. The above definition shows that MHCUs do not only include the person who is diagnosed and admitted to mental health care institutions, it also includes other people who are using the mental health care services. For the purpose of this chapter, we define MHCUs as a person who is receiving care, treatment and rehabilitation services for SUDs.

#### **2.4 A nurse**

A nurse refers to a person registered in a category under Section 31(1) of the Nursing Act in order to practice nursing and or midwifery [15]. For the purpose of this chapter, a nurse refers to a person registered with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) to care for MHCUs diagnosed with SUD.

*Nurses' Coping Strategies When Caring for Mental Health Care Users Diagnosed with Substance… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107034*

#### **2.5 Substance use disorders (SUDs)**

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) For the purpose of this chapter, we define SUD as the misuse of, abuse of, or dependency on substances such as alcohol, cannabis, nyaope, cocaine, tobacco and other or unknown substances. When the MHCUs are admitted to mental health care institutions for care, treatment or rehabilitation services for SUDs, they are cared for by nurses who are not coping most of the time. This is the main focus of this chapter.
