A new website has been launched with a searchable directory of more than 850 mental health pharmacies that focus on the needs of individuals with mental illness through targeted services, knowledge and compassion.
The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) Foundation recently launched the website, the Mental Health Pharmacy Directory, at www.mentalhealthpharmacies.com, where consumers can search for a participating pharmacy in their area and see services the pharmacy provides, according to a report in UConn Today. Charles Caley, UConn School of Pharmacy clinical professor, led the website project as the CPNP Foundation’s president.
The site lists 10 mental health pharmacies in Connecticut: in Plainville, Meriden, Middletown, East Hartford, Manchester, Milford, Enfield, Norwich, New London and Dayville.
According to the website, features of mental health pharmacies include empathy for those with mental illness, verbal education about psychiatric medications, communication with mental healthcare providers, dispensing of special medications such as clozapine or injectable antipsychotics, and motivating medication adherence behavior.
The website was developed following a national survey of individuals with mental illness who were asked about their experiences with pharmacists, UConn Today said. About 75 percent of those surveyed said they seldom or never received assistance from their pharmacist in monitoring the effectiveness or safety of their medication.
The greatest concern raised by 58 percent of the respondents was the lack of private space in the pharmacy for an individual to discuss a medication issue with the pharmacist, UConn Today said.
