Publication in The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
The mental health literacy of British community pharmacists
In this cross-sectional survey we examined the mental health literacy of a random sample of community pharmacists in Great Britain. This was the first study to investigate the mental health literacy of British community pharmacists. A peer reviewed article of the research was published in “The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice”.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mental health literacy (MHL) of British community pharmacists.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey instrument was sent by facsimile to a random sample of community pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. The survey instrument contained items concerning recognition of the symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, the helpfulness of a range of interventions, mental health stigma and the degree of comfort providing pharmaceutical care to people with mental health problems.
Findings
Among community pharmacists (n=329) symptom recognition was high for depression but lower for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Pharmacists showed a preference for evidence-based interventions and support for psychological therapies and physical activity for all three mental health problems. Pharmacists expressed less comfort providing pharmacy services to people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression than cardiovascular disease. Mental health stigma was higher for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder than depression, with many pharmacists holding misperceptions about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Practical implications
The study findings indicate the need for enhanced mental health content in the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum which should challenge misperceptions of mental illness.
Originality/value
This is the first study to investigate the MHL of British community pharmacists.
Citation
Morral, K. and Morral, J. (2017), “The mental health literacy of British community pharmacists”, The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 98-110. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-12-2015-0054
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited
Read more
Article about this research on our website:
The need to improve mental health literacy among community pharmacists
Journal articles on publisher’s website:
The mental health literacy of British community pharmacists
A survey of community pharmacists’ attitudes towards mental illness