Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential approaches to continuing education and training delivery for community pharmacists to equip them to support mental health consumers and carers with illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Design/methodology/approach – Review of nation...

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Main Authors: Wheeler, A., Mey, A., Kelly, F., Hattingh, H. Laetitia, Davey, A.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Pier Professional Ltd. 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38546
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author Wheeler, A.
Mey, A.
Kelly, F.
Hattingh, H. Laetitia
Davey, A.
author_facet Wheeler, A.
Mey, A.
Kelly, F.
Hattingh, H. Laetitia
Davey, A.
author_sort Wheeler, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential approaches to continuing education and training delivery for community pharmacists to equip them to support mental health consumers and carers with illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Design/methodology/approach – Review of national and international literature about community pharmacists’ roles, beliefs and attitudes towards mental health, continuing education delivery for the workforce and training recommendations to equip pharmacy workforce. Findings – Training involving consumer educators was effective in reducing stigma and negative attitudes. Interactive and contextually relevant training appeared to be more effective than didactic strategies. Narratives and role-plays (from the perspective of consumers, carers and health professionals) are effective in promoting more positive attitudes and reduce stigma. Flexible on-line delivery methods with video footage of expert and consumer narratives were preferable for a cost-effective programme accessible to a wide community pharmacy workforce. Originality/value – There is a clear need for mental health education for community pharmacists and support staff in Australia. Training should target reducing stigma and negative attitudes, improving knowledge and building confidence and skills to improve pharmacy staff’s perceived value of working with mental health consumers. The delivery mode should maximise uptake.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-385462017-09-13T14:17:43Z Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future Wheeler, A. Mey, A. Kelly, F. Hattingh, H. Laetitia Davey, A. Community pharmacy On-line Mental health Australia Continuing education Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential approaches to continuing education and training delivery for community pharmacists to equip them to support mental health consumers and carers with illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Design/methodology/approach – Review of national and international literature about community pharmacists’ roles, beliefs and attitudes towards mental health, continuing education delivery for the workforce and training recommendations to equip pharmacy workforce. Findings – Training involving consumer educators was effective in reducing stigma and negative attitudes. Interactive and contextually relevant training appeared to be more effective than didactic strategies. Narratives and role-plays (from the perspective of consumers, carers and health professionals) are effective in promoting more positive attitudes and reduce stigma. Flexible on-line delivery methods with video footage of expert and consumer narratives were preferable for a cost-effective programme accessible to a wide community pharmacy workforce. Originality/value – There is a clear need for mental health education for community pharmacists and support staff in Australia. Training should target reducing stigma and negative attitudes, improving knowledge and building confidence and skills to improve pharmacy staff’s perceived value of working with mental health consumers. The delivery mode should maximise uptake. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38546 10.1108/JMHTEP-09-2013-0030 Pier Professional Ltd. restricted
spellingShingle Community pharmacy
On-line
Mental health
Australia
Continuing education
Wheeler, A.
Mey, A.
Kelly, F.
Hattingh, H. Laetitia
Davey, A.
Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future
title Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future
title_full Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future
title_fullStr Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future
title_full_unstemmed Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future
title_short Education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future
title_sort education and training for community pharmacists in mental health practice: how to equip this workforce for the future
topic Community pharmacy
On-line
Mental health
Australia
Continuing education
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38546