BRITISH pharmacists are reporting that they are being stretched to breaking point as they endeavour to meet the needs of their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chemist and Druggist reports.
The trade publication's annual salary survey found the increased workload pharmacists have taken on in recent months were adversely impacting their physical and mental wellbeing.
A third of the 514 pharmacy managers and employee pharmacists who took part in the survey said that they were dealing with "very high" levels of stress, while 257 (50%) described their stress levels as "high".
One pharmacist reported having been off work for four weeks "with stress", while another said that their blood pressure was at a point where their GP wanted them to take antihypertensive medication.
Other pharmacists said they were experiencing migranes, chest pain and nausea, with 57% of respondents reporting that they were struggling to sleep because of work-related stress.
While some pharmacists were being prescribed medications to cope with the increased workplace pressure, close to one-in-five said they had increased their alcohol intake to deal with their rising stress levels, with 1% saying they had turned to illegal drugs to escape the anxiety.
The survey found that 51% of respondents had experienced intimidation from customers, while 22% reported instances of intimidation by management and 15% said colleagues had been aggressive towards them.
More than one-in-10 pharmacists said they had experienced discrimination from customers, due to their age, racial or religious background or sexual orientation, while 5% reported that managers or colleagues had discriminated against them on those grounds.
Close to a third of respondents said they were suffering with depression, with 8% reporting they had suicidal thoughts as a result of the increased workplace stress.
If you are experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression, contact the Pharmacists' Support Service on 1300 244 910 or CLICK HERE for more information.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 19 Feb 21
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