Discovering and understanding under-served communities

People with mental health issues

Mental health conditions can affect mood, thinking and behaviour. Individuals with mental illness experience increased levels of physical illness and reduced life expectancy. Those that are at higher risk include individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, those with learning disability, homeless people and prisoners.

Reflect on your Medicines Use Reviews

Reflect on and discuss with your pharmacy team the issues brought up by the following quote. This was one individual's view of how pharmacy staff should interact with people who have mental health issues.

"Listening, making time, being approachable, not being patronising or judgemental, not being scared of people with mental health problems. Understanding that it is often a challenge for a person to enter a new or unfamiliar environment or speak with new people. Concentration can be affected by mental health problems so people are not meaning to be rude when they appear ‘distracted’."

(Female, aged 32 years diagnosed with mental health issues)

Katz IT et al (2013) Impact of HIV-related stigma on treatment adherence: systematic review and meta-synthesis JIAS 16(2):18640.

NICE (2011) Common mental health disorders: Guidance and guidelines, NICE.

Parks J et al (2006) Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. National Association of State Mental Health Programme Directors

Royal College of Psychiatrists (2010) No Health without Public Mental Health: The Case for Action (Position Statement PS4/2010). Royal College of Psychiatrists

Select which of the following statements are true or false?
People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder die an average 10 years earlier than the general population.
Incorrect - People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder die an average 25 years earlier than the general population!
Correct - The previous statement was false. People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder die an average 25 years earlier than the general population!
Medicines Use Reviews may be one way to address inequality and so promote mental health.
Correct - Medicines Use Reviews may be one way to address inequality and so promote mental health.
Incorrect - It is true - Medicines Use Reviews may be one way to address inequality and so promote mental health.
Can you name 3 common mental health disorders?

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