Business
Community pharmacies are the most accessible health destination in Australia and therefore are often the first place patients go when they need help to maintain their health, mental health, and wellbeing. The Covid – 19 pandemic has highlighted just how important community pharmacies are in providing care, advice, and health services, however, frontline health provision can bring about heightened levels of pressure for pharmacy staff. Today, we speak with Christine Morgan, CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Adviser to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. We discuss why it is vitally important that community pharmacies establish and sustain a mentally healthy workplace and ways in which pharmacists can manage their own mental health and support the mental health and wellbeing of colleagues. There are some great resources available to help you establish and maintain a mentally healthy workplace. The National Mental Health Commission Mentally Healthy Workplace guides have been created by experts to provide practical tips and advice on helping employers and employees look out for the signs that someone may need support, and assist them to find help when they need it. The guides can be found at www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au The Pharmacist Support Service (PSS) provides a listening ear over the telephone to pharmacists and pharmacy interns and students. In supporting pharmacists, PSS aims to benefit the public by ensuring that pharmacists maintain their health and well-being and so are able to provide an appropriate level of service to the Australian community. You can visit their website at www.supportforpharmacists.org.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.