Community Pharmacists as Partners in Reducing Suicide Risk

Pharmacists’ roles in mental healthcare: Past, present and future

“…47,48 Nonetheless, these and other barriers, including but not limited to lack of time and private areas within pharmacies to have mental healthrelated conversations, have not stopped pharmacists from providing suicide care. 47 Studies from the United States, Australia and Canada have demonstrated that pharmacists frequently interact with people experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours, with evidence from Australia and Canada indicating that up to 85% of pharmacists have cared for a person at risk of suicide at least once and approximately 10% of pharmacists have done so more than 10 times. [49][50][51] However, pharmacy-based reports such as those published by the International Pharmaceutical Federation, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the United Kingdom's Royal Pharmaceutical Society between 2013-2018, fail to clearly articulate pharmacists' roles in this area.…”

“… 46 Today, 50 years later, the role of the pharmacist in suicide prevention continues to be important; however, it is not yet well-articulated, with a lack of established referral pathways to primary and specialist services, low uptake of mental health crisis training by pharmacists and minimal mental health promotion within pharmacies, as evidenced by some reporting that they have never considered pharmacists’ roles in this area. 47 , 48 Nonetheless, these and other barriers, including but not limited to lack of time and private areas within pharmacies to have mental health-related conversations, have not stopped pharmacists from providing suicide care. 47 Studies from the United States, Australia and Canada have demonstrated that pharmacists frequently interact with people experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours, with evidence from Australia and Canada indicating that up to 85% of pharmacists have cared for a person at risk of suicide at least once and approximately 10% of pharmacists have done so more than 10 times.…”

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“…Addressing suicide and suicidal ideation is a big task and should be a goal for all members of the health care team. In their commentary, Mospan et al 7 explore the role that community pharmacists could potentially play. As pharmacy providers directly interact with a large number of patients every day, and more often than the individual's primary care clinician, there are multiple ways in which community pharmacists can contribute to suicide screening, education, and prevention.…”