The mental health literacy of British community pharmacists
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-12-2015-0054 |
| Date | 13 March 2017 |
| Pages | 98-110 |
| Published date | 13 March 2017 |
| Author | Kim Morral,Jordi Morral |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Mental health education |
The mental health literacy of British
community pharmacists
Kim Morral and Jordi Morral
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 (n¼329) 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.
Keywords Community pharmacy, Mental health literacy, Mental health stigma
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Community pharmacies deliver frontline healthcare services to the public which include the
management of medicines, advice and referral, and a wide range of clinical services (General
Pharmaceutical Council, 2012). Since community pharmacists have frequent contact with
patients in receipt of psychotropic medications, in addition to supporting them to make informed
choices about their medications, they are also well placed to signpost people to appropriate
sources of support when they detect signs of mental illness. It is important therefore that
community pharmacists have an understanding of mental health conditions and evidence-based
interventions.
The term “mental health literacy”(MHL) refers to knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about mental
disorders that aid their recognition, management or prevention (Jorm et al., 1997). Few studies
have examined the MHL of community pharmacists. One study (O’Reilly et al., 2010) reported a
high level of MHL among Australian pharmacists in terms of responses to a vignette depicting
a person with either depression or schizophrenia. Conversely, other studies have identified that a
lack of knowledge of mental health and therapeutics by community pharmacists and pharmacy
students presents a barrier to providing pharmaceutical care (Maslen et al., 1996; Badger et al.,
2002; Aaltonen et al., 2010).
Research has also revealed that community pharmacists lack confidence and experience
discomfort providing pharmacy services to patients with mental illness (Maslen et al., 1996;
Phokeo et al., 2004). A lack of specific training and experience in mental health has been
Received 15 December 2015
Revised 12 February 2016
30 August 2016
Accepted 11 October 2016
Kim Morral is an Independent
Researcher based in
Huddersfield, UK.
Jordi Morral is based at the
Department of Pharmacy,
University of Huddersfield,
Huddersfield, UK.
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VOL. 12 NO. 2 2017, pp.98-110, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228 DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-12-2015-0054
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