# “Not just labelling medicines”: Pharmacists' perspectives on their potential roles within youth mental health services

## TL;DR

This paper explores how pharmacists in Australia could contribute more to youth mental health care by moving beyond just dispensing medications and working closely with other healthcare professionals.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into pharmacists' perspectives on their untapped roles in youth mental health services and identifies barriers to their integration.

## Key findings

- Pharmacists want to expand their roles beyond dispensing to include more clinical involvement in youth mental health.
- Systemic barriers like role ambiguity and professional hierarchies hinder pharmacists' integration into mental health teams.
- Clear role definitions and collaborative frameworks are needed to enhance pharmacists' contributions to holistic youth mental healthcare.

## Abstract

Youth mental illness is a significant global health concern, with increasing rates of psychological distress and unmet care needs. Despite their expertise in psychotropic medication management, pharmacists remain underutilised in youth mental health services, leaving their potential contributions to multidisciplinary care largely unexplored.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian pharmacists to explore their perspectives on medication use among young people and their potential roles in youth mental health services. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Eighteen pharmacists from diverse practice areas shared their insights, generating four key themes: (i) The Struggle for Equitable Access, highlighting systemic barriers to health service access; (ii) Medication as a Pillar, Not the Panacea, advocating for balanced psychotropic medication use alongside psychosocial interventions; (iii) Breaking the Dispensing Box, revealing pharmacists' aspirations to expand their roles beyond dispensing through greater clinical involvement; and (iv) Navigating Trust and Stigma, discussing the challenges of building trust with young people amid stigma.

Pharmacists are well-positioned to play a more integral role in youth mental healthcare by leveraging their expertise in medication management. However, role ambiguities, professional hierarchies, and stigma may restrict their contributions beyond “just labelling medicines”. Clear role definitions, collaborative frameworks, and targeted education are essential to empower pharmacists to engage in multidisciplinary care, while addressing systemic barriers is critical to integrating them into youth mental health services and enhancing holistic care.

•Pharmacists possess expertise in psychotropic medication management but are currently not integrated into youth mental health services in Australia.•Participants expressed a desire for expanded roles, advocating for deeper clinical involvement and integration into multidisciplinary teams.•Participants felt systemic barriers can restrict equitable access to youth mental healthcare and exacerbate challenges in service delivery.•Role ambiguity and professional hierarchies were considered key barriers, emphasising the need for clear role definitions.

Pharmacists possess expertise in psychotropic medication management but are currently not integrated into youth mental health services in Australia.

Participants expressed a desire for expanded roles, advocating for deeper clinical involvement and integration into multidisciplinary teams.

Participants felt systemic barriers can restrict equitable access to youth mental healthcare and exacerbate challenges in service delivery.

Role ambiguity and professional hierarchies were considered key barriers, emphasising the need for clear role definitions.