TODAY marks R U OK? Day, a day dedicated to fostering a culture of support and discussing mental health and wellbeing, and pharmacists are being encouraged to look out for each other as well as the community.
The charity behind the public health promotion says it aims to start life-changing conversations by encouraging and empowering Australians to reach out to friends, family members and colleagues who might be struggling with life's ups and downs, and ask, 'are you OK?'.
"Working in pharmacy can be stressful and we all need to look out for and support each other," said Kay Dunkley, Executive Officer of the Pharmacists' Support Service (PSS).
"R U OK? Day is a great reminder to check in with each other, not just once a year but every day," she told Pharmacy Daily.
Dunkley encouraged pharmacists to look out for colleagues and offer support if they are having a challenging time.
"It might be as simple as getting them a coffee and chatting over a tea break or helping them with their workload on a busy day," she said.
"If a colleague has had a difficult interaction with a patient or customer or another health professional, offer a listening ear so they can debrief with you - no need for advice or solutions and no judgement, just be there for them so they can share what happened," Dunkley suggested.
"If a colleague is really struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, you can link them up to expert help such as an Employee Assistance Program or their own GP or psychologist or one of the helplines," she added.
Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social isolation (PALS) founder Jenny Kirshner pointed out that with rising workloads and stress, and little time to prioritise social connections, pharmacists may feel lonely which is linked to poorer mental health and wellbeing.
"The good news is that workplace loneliness is modifiable," Kirshner told Pharmacy Daily.
"This R U OK? Day, ask a colleague how they're really doing - and listen attentively.
"Encourage them to prioritise social connection as it is a core pillar of health and a non-negotiable - a moment of connection could make all the difference," she said.
For more information about support services for pharmacists, including crisis contacts, see the PSS website HERE. KB
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