Mental Health - promote good mental health and support people with mental illness

Introduction

Mental health services are a key public health priority for governments and the National Health Service (NHS) throughout Great Britain.

In England the Department of Health’s mental health strategy “New Horizons. A shared vision for mental health” (2009) provides a national vision to improve mental health and well-being. The Government’s new strategy clearly describes mental health as a priority.  The Pharmacy in England White Paper highlights the health challenges specific to mental health and describes how pharmacy can contribute.

At the inaugural meeting of the Welsh cross-party pharmacy group, members discussed the role of pharmacy in providing mental health care in the community and in prisons. Medicines are a key component of mental health care and pharmacists have the expertise required to improve adherence to medication and bridge the gaps between services in different healthcare settings, the report says. However, the services pharmacists can provide in supporting mental health appear to lack recognition and integration into models of care.

Mental health is a national public health priority for Scotland. “Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: Policy and Action Plan (2009-2011)”, sets out Scotland’s mental health improvement plan. The role of pharmacists in improving the public’s health and tackling health inequalities, have been recognised in a number of government papers including “The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland (2002)”

View our quick reference guide on Public Health: Mental Health.

Click on the links below for practice guidance on Mental Health topics including:

• Pharmaceutical care in Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD)
• Pharmaceutical care in Dementia
• Pharmaceutical care in Depression
• Pharmaceutical care in Sleep Disorders
• Pharmaceutical care in Psychosis and Schizophrenia

These practice guidances are part of a mental health toolkit, which will be available soon. We'd like to thank all those who contributed, including focus group members, for their advice and expertise. View a full list of Authors and Acknowledgements.