Just as everyone needs to look after their body, the mind also needs taking care of. Only with good mental health can someone think, feel and react in ways that make life feel manageable and enjoyable. Conversely, suffering with poor mental health can be hugely debilitating. There is widespread acceptance that mental health disorders cannot and should not be dismissed as someone feeling ‘a bit low’ or being in ‘a bad mood’, much as a broken leg after a fall is considerably more serious than a bruise.  

The pharmacy team is focused for the main part on patients, but the need for team members to stay well mentally as well as physically cannot be underestimated. As Covid-19 continues to make its presence felt, pharmacy teams continue to play their part on the frontline – a situation that can all to easily take its toll on mental health.

As well as promoting general wellbeing, supporting good mental health in the workplace can have a significant impact on performance. According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly 15 per cent of people experience mental health problems in the workplace, with full-time female workers – of which pharmacy has many – nearly twice as likely to have a common mental health problem than their male counterparts (19.8 versus 10.9 per cent).  

Over 12 per cent of all sickness absence days in the UK can be attributed to mental health problems. Cutting down on this would have a wide-reaching positive impact on the individual’s wellbeing and also on the wider pharmacy team.