The Hague • 7 July 2022
Support for pharmacists to provide much needed mental health services is available from today through two new publications from the International Pharmaceutical Federation.
Support for pharmacists to provide much needed mental health services is available from today through two new publications from the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP):
• “Mental healthcare — A handbook for pharmacists”; and
• “Knowledge and skills reference guide for professional development in mental health care”
The handbook, developed in collaboration with an international group of experts, aims to support pharmacy practice, presenting the many potential mental health care actions that pharmacists can perform, from preventing mental illness and screening for signs to optimising medication and responding to mental health crises. The reference guide is intended to accompany the handbook and defines the knowledge and skills that pharmacists need to acquire to provide such services.
“It is estimated that 7% of all global burden of disease and 19% of all years lived with disability are attributable to mental and addictive disorders. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence of mental illness and reduced availability of mental health services, but there was already a massive deficiency in mental health care that needed to be resolved in many countries before the pandemic. We know that pharmacists can play a significant part in addressing these shortages and make a big difference to improving global health in this way,” said Mr Paul Sinclair, chair of the FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Practice.
“It is vital that we expand the health workforce that can flag mental health issues, provide mental health first aid, refer people with lived-experience of mental illness to specialists and provide subsequent support. Pharmacists’ accessibility and positive relationships with people in their communities can be utilised. They can be and need to be engaged in mental health, and these two new FIP resources supports them to do so,” Mr Sinclair added.
Notes for editors
Both documents are the latest to be published under FIP’s Practice Transformation Programme on Non-Communicable Diseases, which was initiated in 2021.
ABOUT FIP
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, and is in official relations with the World Health Organization. Through our 146 member organisations, we represent over four million practitioners and scientists around the world. Our vision is a world where everyone benefits from access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and pharmaceutical care. www.fip.org
PRESS CONTACT
Lin-Nam Wang, head of communications & advocacy
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
Email linnam@fip.org
Tel +31 70 302 1987