The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart MSP, has asked RPS Scotland to pass on his thanks and best wishes to pharmacists across Scotland for their hard work both during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
The message came at a meeting between the Minister and RPS Scotland on 18 August. Two key areas were discussed: how pharmacy teams could do more to support people with their mental health, and the support pharmacists themselves need for their own wellbeing and mental health.
On the roles pharmacists can play, the conversation focused on RPS Scotland’s mental health policy.
Clare Morrison, RPS Director for Scotland, said: “We were delighted to have such a positive discussion with the Minister about pharmacy. It was really encouraging to hear how the Scottish Government is planning to progress some of our mental health policy asks including looking at the possibility of more specialist mental health pharmacists, how pharmacists can support patients who take medicines for mental health more, and mental health first aid training for pharmacy teams.”
The meeting also covered pharmacists’ wellbeing and our concerns that pharmacists are not accessing the services that are available in Scotland, including those available to all pharmacists via the National Wellbeing Hub. We agreed to take forward some work to try to break down some of the potential barriers that have prevented pharmacists using wellbeing services.