Earlier this year the PDA Reps in Boots undertook training through their employer to become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs). As MHFAs, the reps are able to recognise when someone may be struggling with their mental health and are able to offer help and support. They are also trained to listen and help navigate people to professional help and other support networks that are available.
Here, Gordon Finlayson, National PDA Rep in Scotland, explains how he has used his training as an MHFA to help support pharmacists within the workplace.
“Sometimes when members contact me to discuss a work issue they are also in a place where they are suffering from stress, anxiety, and poor mental health. Prior to my MHFA training, my priority would have been to try and fix the work issue. Now I take a far more holistic approach and listen to more than just the work issue. I now feel more empowered to support the member by having more open discussions and signposting to other sources of support.
A key thing that I learnt from the training is to look after your own mental health. I would encourage everyone to take some ‘me time’ and switch off from the daily stresses we all cope with. This might be 15 minutes reading a book, or a walk, or anything that works for you.”
This year’s Mental Health Awareness theme is ‘Movement: Moving for our mental health’. Being physically active is great for the body and mind, and exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. The PDA would like to encourage everyone to find some time this week to ‘move for your mental health.’ Movement doesn’t have to be going to the gym or running a marathon: it can be anything that makes someone happy. This could be cycling in the countryside, meeting up with friends for a walk, or simply dancing around the kitchen whilst preparing dinner. PDA members work in an environment that at times can be busy and stressful, so looking after their own mental health is essential. If pharmacists can look after their own mental health, then they will be in a better position to help and support others.
Learn more
- Mental Health Awareness Week: 9 – 15 May 2022
- PDA Reps at Boots supported to become Mental Health First Aiders
- It’s Time to Address Stress: Action plan
- An award-winning student’s commitment to improving mental health in pharmacy
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
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