Mental healthcare and your community pharmacists

This year, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), an association that has the full support of ICPA, will be creating awareness about how chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and others can impact on a patient’s mental health.

Sham Moodley, ICPA chairperson says: “Thirty years ago, mental health was something people associated with institutions and there were many misconceptions about it. Today, we have organisations such as SADAG offering information and the support that patients need in order to receive the best mental healthcare available. The various treatment options have also developed immensely over the years with regard to psychiatric treatment and of course, medicine.”

Moodley says that the role of the independent community pharmacist is invaluable when it comes to the support offered to patients receiving their chronic medication from pharmacies. “Statistics indicate that patients with chronic conditions are at risk of developing depression or related illnesses,’’ he says. The community pharmacists, who generally know their patients well, are in a good position to make sure that the patient understands the side-effects when they collect their chronic medication and importantly the possible effect of any other medication that the patient might be taking.

As with any chronic illness, early diagnosis and sticking to prescribed treatment is really important when it comes to mental healthcare. The same goes for the support that patients receive and have access to. “Our members, all independent pharmacies, many of which can be found in rural areas, play an important role in helping to reduce the risk of chronic conditions extending to more serious mental health conditions,” says Moodley.

Facts about chronic illness and your mental health:

• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic diseases are the leading cause of death in the world.
• Illnesses like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease and lung disease are all examples of chronic illness.
• People with a chronic medical illness have a 40% risk of developing depression or other mental health problems – which is also seen as a chronic illness.
• It’s not just patients who can develop depression or who need support. Caregivers and loved ones often also struggle to deal with a diagnosis of a chronic illness.
• Support groups play an important role in helping family members, loved ones and the patients themselves to express how they’re feeling, and get support from people who understand what they’re going through.

The ICPA fully support all initiatives that are part of Word Mental Health Day, including the nationwide talks SADAG will be hosting to raise awareness about how chronic illnesses and mental healthcare often go hand-in-hand. For more information about these talks and the closest location to you, contact the SADAG team at 011 262 6396 or visit www.sadag.org. Or for any other enquiries about chronic conditions and mental healthcare, visit your local independent community pharmacy.