Family members or those who care for people with a mental illness such as depression or anxiety are being sought to take part in a Griffith University study to ensure consumers get the best out of their medicine management.
Aligned with the Australian Government’s focus on mental health, the Mental Health and Community Pharmacy Project assists pharmacy staff to improve their skills to work with mental health consumers.
Teresa Procter is the manager and pharmacy assistant at Meadowlands Pharmacy in Carindale. Teresa attended the Mental Health and Community Pharmacy workshop in Brisbane last November and said it was a highly beneficial experience.
“We like to offer our customers a highly personalised service where they can come in and have a bit of a chat with us about what’s going on in their lives. Therefore when the chance arose to do this workshop I thought it would be a
great opportunity to pick up some more tips and further enhance our service.
“The people coming in for consultations may have mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia and as part of what we provide, we may talk about a range of issues concerning their medications. However conversations often go off-track too and we sometimes end up having chats with carers about the challenges of caring for elderly relatives.
“So far we’re seeing around six clients who’ve agreed to come into the pharmacy on a weekly or fortnightly basis and the arrangement is going well for both them and us. They are seated in a quiet area of the pharmacy where we work out simple strategies to manage their medicines. Generally feedback has been positive, with all clients stating that they benefit from being able to talk about how to get the best from their medications.”
Teresa says the biggest thing she has learnt from being a part of the program so far, is to not be overly reactive to what people have to say. “I myself have experience of looking after an elderly relative who can be difficult at times and opposed to receiving advice regarding medication. Therefore when I hear this type of thing from clients, I try to draw on my own personal experience of how tough things can and try not to be too judgemental!
“This program is a great way of ensuring consumers get the best out of their medicines and I am hopeful that we will be able to recruit more people in due course, as well as get carers more involved.”
Local Carindale resident, Guy Dorries, 57, has been involved in the Mental Health program for almost a year and says it has provided him with comfort and support during a period of ill health.
“In total I am currently taking 13 medications for conditions including chronic lung disease, high blood pressure and depression,” says Mr Dorries. “I have also had a recent spell in hospital, so I am pleased to be taking part in the program and getting some extra support. “The staff at the Meadowlands Pharmacy know my wife and I very well, as they do my GP, so going in to have a consult is very helpful, particularly as I am taking so many different drugs. Teresa and the team are always very good at suggesting alternative generic drugs which may be cheaper, or advising me about potential contraindications.
“They also suggest helpful ways of remembering how to take my medication and I can’t argue with that! “The program is a great idea for people with any form of mental illness, to help them feel more confident in how they approach their treatment. I thoroughly recommend it.”
The Mental Health and Community Pharmacy Project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the Fifth Community Pharmacy Research and Development Program managed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
If you would like more information, call us free on 1800 600 687 or email mentalhealth@griffith.edu.au
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