PHARMACISTS' resilience is being tested through the COVID-19 pandemic by their natural inclination to strive for perfection, Irish Institute of Pharmacy Executive Director, Catriona Bradley, believes.
Speaking during an International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) webinar on mental health, last week, Bradley, noted pharmacists' conservative nature made them "prone to pessimism", which could impact them personally.
"There are some specific things about pharmacy that can deplete our resilience," she said.
"I think we can be perfectionists, which is brilliant in dispensing, but not necessarily always helpful in our lives.
"We have a real skill in identifying errors, risks, problems, and if we didn't we wouldn't be good at our jobs, but if that spills into our lives [outside work], it means we can sometimes focus on the risks, the issues and the problems rather than necessarily seeing all the positivity and optimism.
"I know, I for one thought, 'optimism? Yeah fine, that's great as a personality trait, but actually when it comes to a job as a pharmacist, you know gamblers are optimistic! Pharmacists aren't'.
"We're conservative, what we have is a professional pessimism, which is a really good thing - it sounds really bad.
"But an over-expression of any strength can become our weakness, so let's be more attuned to the positives."
As part of an all-female panel, led by FIP CEO, Catherine Duggan, Bradley also expressed the need for the profession to focus on the mental health of male pharmacists.
"I would say they need to be particularly mindful [of their mental health], because who is minding our men?" she asked,
If you are finding the ongoing COVID-19 crisis or any other aspect of life in or outside of pharmacy challenging, the Pharmacists' Support Service is available on 1300 244 910 to assist you.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 May 20
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 12 May 20
