Mental health and young people

Welcome to our CPD module series for community pharmacy technicians. Written in conjunction with the Pharmacy Magazine CPD series, it will mirror the magazine’s programme throughout the year. The series has been designed for you to use as part of your continuing professional development. Reflective exercises have been included to help you put your learning into practice.

Aim

To help pharmacy technicians talk to young people with mental health concerns. 

Objectives

After completing this module and its online counterpart, pharmacy technicians will be able to:     

• Communicate with young people about mental health in a way that helps them feel understood and supported
• Know what to do if an antidepressant increases a young person’s suicidal thoughts and ideations
• Adjust conversations for neurodivergent young people and those with additional needs.

Contributing authors: Ami Hale MPharm, independent prescriber, lead pharmacist for community mental health services, and Louisa Marchant-Rutherford MPharm, independent prescriber, lead pharmacist for in-patient mental health services.