Learn. Inform. End the stigma.

Pharmacists have the opportunity to serve patients from diverse backgrounds who have unique patient care needs, both physically and mentally. Nonetheless, due to stigma, research shows that a disparity exists in the care that these two patient populations receive. APhA–ASP recently adopted a resolution at APhA2017 that calls for increased efforts to reduce mental health stigma (2017.3). The following recommendations aim to build upon that foundation. 

How to better serve patients who have mental illnesses

As a student pharmacist, you have a responsibility to learn how to best provide care to all patients. You owe it to yourself, but most importantly, you owe it to your patients.

1. Be a pharmacist

• Complete an IPPE or APPE in psychiatric pharmacy.
• Pursue a residency in psychiatric pharmacy and/or become a board certified psychiatric pharmacist.
• Join the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists.
• Volunteer at a homeless shelter or community health center.
• Stay up-to-date on clinical guidlines and pharmacy practice topics, such as telebehavioral health.
• Counsel patients on adverse effects of psychiatric medications and advise patients when they can expect a medication to start working.
• Familiarize yourself with depression, alcohol, and/or opioid screening tools (PHQ–9 even has an app!).
• Continue honing your skills in compassion, communication, and patient-centered care.

2. Be an advocate

• Work with your state association to allow pharmacist administration of long-acting injectable antipsychotics and the dispensing of naloxone without a prescription.
• Advocate for private counseling areas in your practice setting.
• Join the pharmacist provider status movement (Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act—H.R. 592/S. 109).
• Participate in mental health awareness campaigns, such as Mental Health Awareness Month in May and Mental Illness Awareness Week in October.
• Use appropriate mental health jargon and people-first language, as recommended by the American Psychiatric Association and Mental Health America (see chart).

3. Begin Your Legacy

• Improve your own mental health literacy. Learn from organizations who are experts in mental health, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Mental Health America, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
• Become trained in Mental Health First Aid and suicide prevention. Similar to CPR, “Mental Health First Aid” and “Question. Persuade. Refer.,” train individuals to support those experiencing mental health problems by offering initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care.
• Know the mental health resources in your community. You are probably asking, “Where do I start?” Because mental health services are unique to each state and even community, simply conduct a Google search on “mental health services (insert city)” to learn about services available in your area. Alternatively, you can start with SAMHSA’s treatment locator tool.
• Provide social support. Pharmacists can play an important role in providing social support to persons receiving treatment for mental health, such as by helping patients navigate manufacturer patient assistance programs to obtain medications. Additionally, Aunt Bertha (www.auntbertha.com) is an online directory of social service organizations that can assist patients with finding food, health, housing, jobs, and more. 
• Memorize the Suicide Prevention Line phone number
• (1-800-273-TALK). 
• Take care of yourself
• Self-care is more than a $20 yoga class, a $100 massage, or a hashtag. Self-care is about being the best you—however that may be, so that you can be the best for your patients! 

Adrienne Simmons is a final-year PharmD candidate at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy.