Helena Roennfeldt

Helena is a lived experience researcher and PhD candidate. Her research explores the experiences of mental health crisis and formal mental health crisis responses. Helena has researched extensively on the development of the Lived Experience workforce in Australia. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, Forensic Mental Health, Suicidology and Mental Health Practice. Helena has over 20 years’ experience working in the mental health sector and her academic, practical and lived experience informs her knowledge and skills base in qualitative research.

Presentation

Abstract

Title: Delivery of a co-designed pharmacist-led service to support physical and mental health

Author(s): Wheeler AJ, Roennfeldt H, McMillan SS, El-den S, O’Reilly CL, Collins JC, Hu J

Introduction: There is an emerging role for community pharmacists to work in partnership with consumers living with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) to support their physical and mental health. This presentation will provide an overview of the reasons why a pharmacist-led support service for people living with SPMI is needed, using evidence from the literature, consultations with consumers with lived experience, and learnings from the development and delivery of the Bridging the Gap between Physical and Mental Illness in Community Pharmacy (PharMIbridge) Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT).

Methods: Community pharmacies (n=55) in four Australian regions were randomised to either the PharMIbridge Intervention (IG) or Comparator Group (CG). Trained IG pharmacists (n=55 including interns) are working together with consumers living with SPMI over a six-month period, by supporting their physical and mental health needs, and addressing any medication issues. A pharmacist and a consumer educator with lived experience of mental illness working in partnership as a mentor pair are supporting service implementation in IG pharmacies.

Results: The training framework and its delivery will be described, including the mentoring partnership roles. The research team and consumer mentors experiences over the past 18 months will be shared.

Discussion: The PharMIbridge RCT aims to address the physical and mental health needs of consumers living with SPMI and use the medication expertise of community pharmacists to support medication adherence.

This RCT is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement.