Slideshow: Pharmacist Interventions Are Key in Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

The US is facing a significant mental health crisis, with millions of adults and youth struggling with conditions such as depression and anxiety. Despite these widespread struggles, access to treatment remains a major hurdle—barriers like stigma, lack of resources, geographic limitations, and more hinder patients from seeking essential care. Left untreated, mental health conditions can lead to significant challenges in daily life, including difficulty managing work, relationships, and self-care. In the worst cases, these struggles can lead to thoughts of suicide, which accounts for the eleventh leading cause of death in the US.²

In the face of this crisis, pharmacists and pharmacy staff play crucial roles in promoting patient well-being. By virtue of their accessibility, knowledgeability, and familiarity, they can identify signs of distress, connect at-risk individuals to important resources, and offer guidance on medication regimens. Four posters presented at this year’s American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting & Exposition assessed the potential impact of pharmacist interventions on improving mental health outcomes.

Read more of our coverage from the 2024 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition here.

References

1. Carpenter D, Stover A, Gable AE, et al. A brief suicide prevention training improves community pharmacists’ knowledge, self-efficacy, communication, and referral behavior. Presented at: American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition; March 22-25, 2024; Orlando, FL. Poster 1182.

2. Habba S, Burghardt K, Stewart B. #atimetotalk: A strategy to destigmatize depression in a community pharmacy setting. Presented at: American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition; March 22-25, 2024; Orlando, FL. Poster 1181.

3. Jewell TM, Kowalski A, Lahrman R. Assessing a pharmacist provided mental health screening service in a rural community to address anxiety and depression. Presented at: American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition; March 22-25, 2024; Orlando, FL. Poster 1217.

4. Lavigne JE, Hur K, Mann JJ, Gibbons R. Risk of suicide attempts and intentional self-harm on alprazolam compared with other benzodiazepines and buspirone. Presented at: American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition; March 22-25, 2024; Orlando, FL. Poster 1265.