Pharmacists left out of plan
January 19, 2012
THE omission of pharmacists
from the Government’s Draft Ten
Year Plan for Mental Health is
“disappointing”, according to the
Vice-President of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia,
Claire O’Reilly.
The Government’s Ten-Year
Roadmap for National Mental
Health Reform was released for
public consultation this week (PD
yest) and is designed to guide
where the Government focuses
attention and funding.
According to the Draft, key
directions for the future of mental
health include: promoting good
mental health and wellbeing and
preventing mental illness and
suicide; early detection and
intervention; consumers and carers
at the heart of services and
support; supporting people to
participate in society; and making
services work for people.
Speaking in the wake of the
release, the PSA said that whilst it is
a “first step in helping address what
is Australia’s third most prevalent
health problem after heart disease
and cancer”, it was disappointing
that the plan failed to look beyond
what it called the “usual suspects,
or the current system”.
“Pharmacists are well placed to
be alert to symptoms of mental
health problems in consumers, and
to help advise and refer them for
further treatment when
appropriate,” said O’Reilly.
“Pharmacists interact with people
who suffer from psychological or
mental health problems on a daily
basis and therefore are in the prime
position to help people with mental
health problems,” she added.
The PSA is currently working on
developing a Framework for
Pharmacists working as members
of the Mental Health team, and has
said that it “looks forward” to
providing feedback on the Draft.
To view the Roadmap visit -
www.health.gov.au.
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