The Role of Pharmacists in Enhancing Mental Healthcare in South Africa: A Narrative Review

Tiisetso Aubrey Chuene

doi:10.56508/mhgcj.v8i1.276

Authors

Tiisetso Aubrey Chuene University of Limpopo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1976-146X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56508/mhgcj.v8i1.276

Keywords:

mental healthcare, mental disorders, mental health, pharmacists, South Africa

Abstract

Introduction: Pharmacists have an obligation to comprehend the special requirements of people with mental disorders. Their role in mental healthcare is becoming more important as mental disorders are becoming more common and treatment plans get more complicated. Regretfully, pharmacists frequently fail to provide the best care possible to those with mental disorders.

Purpose: The purpose of this narrative review was to explore the role of pharmacists in enhancing mental healthcare services focusing on the current roles, challenges, and strategies for improvement.

Methodology: English language peer-reviewed articles from Google Scholar and PubMed, as well as guidelines and governmental data were screened and assessed for inclusion. The key terms "mental health," "mental health services," and "pharmacist role" and phrases related to the role of pharmacists in mental healthcare were used to extract the most pertinent literature from the databases. The Boolean operators "AND," "NOT," and "OR" were used alongside the keywords. The search covered literature published between 2010 and 2024.

Results: This review highlights the role that pharmacists play in providing mental healthcare services, emphasising their capacity to monitor and optimise therapy related to psychotropic medications, offer education and counselling, and manage substance use disorders. Although there are advantages to integrating pharmacists into mental healthcare, there are also obstacles, including systemic underutilisation of pharmacists, lack of training and specialisation, poor communication and collaboration, mental health stigma, lack of resources and time constraints.

Conclusion: The role of pharmacists in mental healthcare can be improved by employing strategies such as integrating mental health education into pharmacy curriculum, making use of technology, and implementing successful multidisciplinary approach. Given the increasing demand for mental healthcare services, integrating pharmacists into mental healthcare will be vital in providing comprehensive, patient-centred healthcare that improves the accessibility and quality of mental healthcare services, however, the realisation of this potential will require overcoming the mentioned obstacles

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