ROLE OF THE PHARMACY WORKFORCE IN IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH

To advocate for destigmatized access to mental healthcare services for all patients across their lifespan, including members of the healthcare workforce; further,

To affirm the essential role of pharmacists, as members of the interprofessional care team, in increasing patient access to mental healthcare services; further,

To urge all members of the pharmacy workforce to raise awareness of, screen for, triage, and provide education on mental health conditions; further,

To advocate for expansion of mental health-related comprehensive medication management services provided by pharmacists; further,

To advocate for adequate funding of mental health awareness programs and for funding that promotes access to mental healthcare services.

Rationale

Mental health is a public and population health issue that requires support of mental healthcare needs for patients and members of the healthcare workforce. Mental health is recognized as a global public health issue, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, support for mental health and access to mental health services are important for the healthcare workforce. Despite the high prevalence of patients with mental health issues, access to services is significantly strained. Data prior to the pandemic demonstrated that nearly 6 of 10 people in the U.S. desired access to mental health services for themselves or a loved one. Barriers to access include a limited and constrained healthcare workforce, high cost, insufficient insurance coverage, long wait times, lack of awareness, and stigma.

The pharmacy workforce plays a critical role in improving medication-use outcomes for populations of patients across the continuum of care. This role creates an opportunity for pharmacists with expertise in mental health to increase patient access to mental health services and improve mental health outcomes. Using a comprehensive medication management approach to care, pharmacists can assess mental healthcare needs, manage medication therapy regimens, educate patients and caregivers, monitor patients, and assess outcomes of mental healthcare services. It also creates an opportunity for the pharmacy workforce to engage as members of the interprofessional care team in population health strategies that increase awareness of, screening for, and treatment of mental health issues. The American Psychological Association outlines the following as principles to guide a population health framework for mental health:

• Use data and the best available science to inform policies, programs, and resources.
• Prevent when possible and otherwise intervene at the earliest moment.
• Strategize, analyze, and intervene at the community/population level (in addition to the individual).
• Reach broad audiences through partnerships and alliances.
• Utilize a developmental approach (e.g., change over time, age‐appropriate interventions).
• Consider the “whole person” and the structural/systemic factors impacting individual behavior.
• Be culturally sensitive while also thinking transculturally.
• Recognize that inherent in every community is the wisdom to solve its own problems.
• Address systemic issues (e.g., social determinants of health, access to treatment).

To ensure that the opportunity to leverage the pharmacy workforce in improving access to and quality of mental health services is realized, there needs to be greater awareness, advocacy and collaboration with other stakeholders, training efforts for building competency and expertise, and reimbursement that supports sustainable services.