“The power of conversation is wonderful”: Bringing mental health into pharmacies
With the coronavirus pandemic approaching its second year, many of us have been experiencing symptoms associated with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
For some, it has come as a worsening of existing symptoms or conditions, while others may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health for the very first time.
If we then seek help or advice for looking after our mental health, the local pharmacy is often the most accessible form of care we can turn to.
“A pharmacist’s role goes beyond being a dispenser of medicine,” David Tran, the owner and pharmacist at Blooms the Chemist Padstow, tells OverSixty.
“We work on the frontline alongside GPs and allied health providers to look after the physical and mental health of our communities.”
Between 2019 and 2020, more than one in six Australians (17.2 percent) received mental health-related prescriptions, totalling 40.7 million medications being dispensed.
Yet, more than half (54 percent) of those with a mental illness do not access treatment.
Learning to spot the signs and symptoms early
A new initiative by Blooms the Chemist could make seeking help easier, with the launch of its Healthy Mind Check-ups.
The service allows people to have one-on-one, confidential conversations with pharmacists about their mental health.
“In community pharmacy, the close ties that we have with the local community members give us the opportunity to provide professional support and advice as a primary point of contact, especially during challenging times such as during the pandemic,” Mr Tran said. “The power of a conversation is wonderful, especially in person.”
Mr Tran’s chemist was at the epicentre of Sydney’s strict COVID-19 lockdown earlier this year, and he has seen a spike in people seeking advice through his pharmacy and the new service.
David Tran (right) says the new Mental Health Check-ups could make mental health resources more accessible to more Australians. Image: Supplied
Pharmacists working within Blooms Chemist locations have received over 660 hours of training in Mental Health First Aid - developing skills in identifying signs of perinatal depression and anxiety and the knowledge to assist those at risk of suicide or experiencing domestic violence or emotional crises caused by poor sleep.
For older individuals, Mr Tran said there were some particular mental health concerns pharmacists would be on the lookout for.
“It is important to identify depression in older patients as they are 10-15 percent more likely to experience this condition,” he says.
“Usually, the contributing factors to depression in older Australians can include physical illness or personal loss. In addition, with a third of all senior Australians living alone, loneliness is becoming a significant contributor on the mental health of older people and could potentially lead to depression and anxiety.”
He added that going to the pharmacy for an in-person check-up or simply “a conversation with one of our team members” can provide Australians with the connection they need.
Remote and rural Australians disproportionately affected
Those in regional and remote areas face more barriers to accessing healthcare, especially when it comes to mental health.
A 2020-2021 survey of patient experiences from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 22.9 percent of people in outer regional, remote or very remote areas waited longer than they felt was acceptable to see a GP, compared to 15.2 percent of people in major cities.
In data from the same survey, 19.9 percent of those in outer regional, remote or very remote areas said cost was not a reason why they didn’t see a mental health professional when they needed to, compared to only 4.2 percent of those in major cities.
Mr Tran says the new initiative will boost the accessibility of mental help support, especially in these areas.
“Australians in remote areas are inherently disadvantaged compared to people in major urban centres when it comes to accessibility of mental health resources. The general lack of services has shown to be the main barrier to seeking treatment or help in these communities,” he explains.
“The long distances that people in regional Australia must commute to have access to mental health services is not only inconvenient but also expensive.”
With over 110 locations across the country, Mr Tran says the initiative is “a significant step forward to ensuring people get the support they need”.
Image: Getty Images