Welcome

Over the next three years Griffith University will undertake a project to explore the medication needs of mental health consumers with illnesses such as depression and anxiety. It will also consider consumer and carer expectations and experiences of community pharmacies. The project team will work with mental health consumers, carers and community pharmacies in Queensland, northern New South Wales and Western Australia. [read more.....]

Principal Researcher
Amanda Wheeler

"Our aim is to assist mental health consumers with their medication and to capitalise on consumer descriptions of community pharmacy as a more relaxed place to obtain information about their treatment. Consumers also describe pharmacists as medicines experts who use consumer friendly language when providing treatment information and with over 5000 locations in Australia they are well placed to become more involved in improving outcomes for people affected by mental illness.

During the project we will develop and pilot training for pharmacists and pharmacy assistants and pilot strategies to support the different needs, expectations and experiences of consumers and carers. We are hoping to involve about 1000 consumers and carers and 900 pharmacy staff and GPs at different stages of the project."

What's New

THE ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING HAS NOW CLOSED! - 13 June 2013

Hello Mental Health Project Participants

This is a friendly reminder that the Online Mental Health Training has now closed. We thank everyone who has completed the training for their time and commitment to helping improve pharmacy practice for those living with a mental illness. We can no longer offer payment if anyone is to complete the training form this point forward.

If you are awaiting your certificate and payment please be patient the team will be getting to these over the next week or two. As you can imagine there is a lot of participants and this may take a couple of weeks for you to receive.

For those that have shown interest in taking part in the next stage of the project we will be in contact shortly. Also for anyone who did not for any reason get the chance to complete the training you may still get in contact with the team in relation to the next stage.

In Stage 3 the team will develop and pilot a strategy for community pharmacists to assist mental health consumers with their medication requirements. We look forward to continuing to work with you all.

Mental Health Team

Phone: call us for free on 1800 600 687

Email: mentalhealth@griffith.edu.au

Website: www.mentalhealthproject.com.au

GROUP 1 COMPLETE THE ONLINE TRAINING - 25 January 2013

Congratulations to all of the participants in Group 1 who have completed the training.

The team has been receiving some very positive feedback regarding their experience with the training and we are happy to hear that pharmacies across Australia are finding this project helpful in improving how they assist mental health consumers and carers. Some of the feedback coming through:

“my pharmacist has told me to ensure I complete this training because they have done so and believe it to be an extremely practical and easily transferrable way to improve daily work. It is brilliant.”

“I have received feedback from several mental health consumers that the service provided by their pharmacy has improved (awareness and interest/duty of care etc).”

If you have been assigned to Group 2 keep an eye out in your email as you will be receiving an invitation to complete the online training shortly (approximately mid to late February 2013).

Remember that in Group 2, due to the delay in receiving the training, pharmacists will receive $250 and pharmacy assistants will receive $125 after completion of a 2nd pre-training questionnaire, all online modules and post-training questionnaire.

Thank you and look forward to hearing from you throughout the training and do not forget you can contact us at any time if you need assistance.

Regards

Mental Health and Community Pharmacy Team

MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY PHARMACY WORKSHOP HELD IN BRISBANE - 14 August 2012

In July a selection of consumers, carers, health professionals and pharmacy staff came together in Brisbane for the Mental Health and Community Pharmacy Workshop. The event was a huge success with both Pharmacists and Pharmacy Assistants providing feedback that they got a lot out of the training.

Some of the presentations and discussions had on the day will be used to make up the online training.

Remember to complete the pre-training assessment by 31 August 2012 so you can be a part of this training.

Mental Health Research Team

MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY PHARMACY PROJECT ATTRACTS MEDIA ATTENTION - 27 June 2012

Recently lead researcher for the Mental Health Project, A/Professor Amanda Wheeler was interviewed for an article in the Australian Pharmacy Journal regarding the imminent increase in mental health incidences, as is education for better management in practice.

A/Professor Amanda Wheeler went on to say 'We've spoken to 25 health professionals and 160-170 consumers in the three states and want another 300 consumers and carers to tell of their experience of community pharmacy.'

For the full article please refer to the Australian Pharmacy Journal, Volume 93, June 2012.

We ask all pharmacies to continue to hand out the postcards when dispensing medication for anxiety and depression as we continue to gain fantastic input from consumers/carers accross Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.

Thank you to all involved for their continued support.

PRE-TRAINING ASSESSMENT SURVEY - 30 May 2012

Thank you to all of those participants that have signed up for the Mental Health and Community Pharmacy Project to date.

To any Pharmacists and Pharmacy Assistants still interested in signing up the research team is still inviting people to do so.

To those participants that have signed up the Pre-Training Assessment has now launched and you should receive a link to this survey in your email. We ask that you complete this survey by 12 June 2012.

If you have not received this email it may be that we do not have a correct or individual email address to contact you. Could you please contact us providing a personal email address to mentalhealth@griffith.edu.au

Thank you in advance to all those involved.

FILMING COMMENCED LAST NIGHT AS PART OF CREATING THE EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE, MODULE 4: COMMUNICATION SKILLS - 25 May 2012

Last night saw the start of filming at Southbank Chemmart Pharmacy, Brisbane in which common scenarios between mental health consumers and carers were depicted in role plays in a community pharmacy setting.

The scenes captured last night will provide best practice around effective communication strategies of both pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. This material will form the basis of developing Module 4: Communication Skills.

You can see the team, comprising of consumers, pharmacists and education consultants, in action below.

HELP! PHARMACY ASSISTANTS NEEDED - 22 May 2012

HELP! Pharmacy Assistants Needed

1 week to On-line Launch of Pre-training Assessment

Reminder: Consumer recruitment ongoing

REVIEW OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY STAFF EDUCATIONAL NEEDS - 09 May 2012

As stage one of the project draws to a close (in mid 2012), a summary of a review of the literature is now available.

WRAPPING UP FOCUS GROUPS - 16 March 2012

All focus group interviews will be completed by early next week.

STILL WANTED: PHARMACIES AND CONSUMERS/CARERS FOR EXIT INTERVIEWS - 08 March 2012

The project team would still welcome new participants.