May is Mental Health Awareness Month and although it has come to an end, pharmacy teams can continue to focus on the mental health needs of their patients, but also think about their own mental health.
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A recent CVS Health survey found that the majority of U.S. adults have serious mental health concerns, and these concerns have been steadily increasing since 2020. The survey, conducted between March 19 and March 21, 2024, included a total of 2,202 adults and found that the number of adults reporting having serious mental health concerns has increased by an estimated 6% since 2022 and 15% since 2020.1
Healthcare workers are facing similar issues, with mental health problems exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, workload, staffing shortages, difficult patients, etc. Researchers found that as pharmacists step up as frontline healthcare workers, they too are experiencing high levels of burnout, anxiety, depression and stress.2
In a cross-sectional study, 47% of pharmacists surveyed reported moderate or severe burnout, half of whom attributed it to the pandemic, and more than 80% of those surveyed reported that their burnout lasted up to a year.
Of course, self-care measures are helpful, but a growing body of research is calling for healthcare leaders to address the systemic issues that contribute to these mental health challenges. A supportive organizational culture for health has been shown to improve the mental health of individual pharmacy staff, and leaders should be actively involved in promoting and modeling health. For example, organizations can establish family-friendly policies such as well-resourced chief health officers, more flexible clinicians, paid parental leave, appropriate workloads, encouraged time off, and tailored mental health programs for pharmacists.3
Of course, meeting patient needs is always a pharmacist’s top priority. In this issue, author Amie Stephens, PharmD, MHA, writes about the important role of community pharmacists in addressing the social determinants of health. By listening carefully and asking follow-up questions, pharmacists can identify patients who need help and connect them to critical resources.
Elsewhere in the MTM Consult article, author Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACS, discusses ways pharmacists can counsel patients in the weeks leading up to summer vacation, with the holidays fast approaching: In addition to sunscreen selection and appropriate use, pharmacists can keep patients up to date on travel vaccines, as needed.
As you read this issue, take a moment to think about your own mental health: To provide the best care for patients, pharmacists (and technicians) need to take care of themselves first.
Thank you for always reading.
