Towards improving community pharmacy-based mental health services in Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, there is a prevalence of aversive life circumstances that frequently assail the mental health and well-being of the citizens, mitigating the impact of which necessitates the institution of psychotherapy and other mental health care methods. These responsibilities, however, appear to be much more for pharmacists in low-resource settings where they are the most accessible healthcare professional. Some of these responsibilities include patient confidentiality as well as counseling patients on medication use, lifestyle as well as other personal matters that may arise in relation to their health. Mental health services including psychotherapy provide a range of therapeutic techniques that enable the patients (individual or groups) to develop effective coping strategies towards emotional and psychological difficulties, via methodic interactions with a mental health expert. In this commentary, we share suggestions on how to improve community pharmacy-based mental health services in Nigeria. With the expanding roles and responsibility for pharmacists beyond medication-related concerns comes the challenge of matching up the training of pharmacists with the broadening scope of practice in Nigeria. However, as pertinent as that might be, there are existing knowledge and competency gaps in keeping up with this trend. To correct these shortfalls, we contend that the training curricula for pharmacists in Nigeria be reviewed and/or expanded to provide adequate knowledge for pharmacy undergraduates and pharmacists about non-drug mental health care which will also impact psychotherapy services during their practice especially in the community settings.

Suicide Prevention in Nigeria: Can Community Pharmacists Have a Role?

“…Most pharmacy schools in Nigeria do not include suicide prevention training in their curriculum [ 45 ]. Even the mandatory continuing education programme recommended and adopted in Nigerian pharmacy practice to update pharmacists’ knowledge and professional skills lacks training on mental healthcare, including suicide prevention [ 45 ]. Lack of adequate training could influence how community pharmacists interact with people about suicide.…”

A Randomized Control Trial to Test Effect of Cash Incentives and Training on Active Casefinding for Tuberculosis among Community Health Workers in Nigeria

“…Community Pharmacists are responsible for dispensing medications, counselling patients according to their health needs, and providing basic access to health care 10 . Community Pharmacies are thought to be the first point of call for health services, in Nigeria, frequently more than the designated Primary Health Centers 11 . according to a study, reasons cited for preference of the CPs include ease of access, short waiting time, free consultation, and longer-term availability of the community pharmacists to the people 12,13 .…”

Pharmacy students’ knowledge of psychotropic medicines and their attitude towards providing pharmaceutical care to patients with anxiety in Nigeria

“…Without adequate treatment, psychiatric (mental) disorders can lead to one or more suicide attempts or completions, as well as a reduction in the victims' quality of life (Brådvik 2018). Pharmacists and other healthcare providers need to actively seek out information regarding psychotropic drugs in order to adequately educate their patients and patient caretakers about possible risks and associated complications (Bamgboye et al, 2021). In Nigeria, there are still no data on pharmacy students' (future pharmacists) understanding of psychotropic medications and their attitudes about the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients with mental health disorders.…”