Specialized training to become available for
pharmacists industry-wide through Walgreens commitment to workplace
wellness and the health and well-being of communities
As the most accessible health care providers in the community,
and also among the most trusted, pharmacists can play an important
role as part of patients’ care teams to help address the growing
need for mental health resources. With today marking the beginning
of Mental Health Month in the U.S., Walgreens announces a
unique collaboration with the National Council for Behavioral
Health (National Council) and the American Pharmacists Association
(APhA), to provide Mental Health First Aid training for certain
Walgreens pharmacists and team members.
Mental Health First Aid, administered by the National Council,
trains participants in mental health literacy, understanding risk
factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns
and strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and
non-crisis situations.
Walgreens will begin the training with certain pharmacy staff
members, including those focused on health outcomes. As part of the
company’s growing commitment to workplace mental health and
wellness, it is also working with the National Council to train
more than 300 Walgreens team members within human resources in
Mental Health First Aid.
“With the growing need for services and resources to help those
living with mental health conditions, as well as substance use and
addiction, we can play an important role by giving our pharmacists
and certain team members the training to help those who may be in
crisis,” said Alex Gourlay, co-chief operating officer, Walgreens
Boots Alliance, Inc. “We’re proud to further our commitment to
improving the health and wellbeing of our communities through this
initiative and working with the National Council and APhA to
continue an important dialogue around mental health and how we can
help.”
The initiative further builds upon Walgreens’ digital platform
and resources related to mental health, as well as the company’s
efforts to curb opioid misuse and abuse, as more than 8 million
U.S. adults are estimated to be living with a mental health
condition as well as battling addiction to opioids or other
substances1.
Walgreens, the National Council and APhA are working closely
together through the collaboration to tailor the training program
for pharmacists, and it will be accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Pharmacy Education.
“One in five people experiences a mental health or substance use
issue in a given year and it’s likely that most of those
individuals use a pharmacy’s services during that year,” said Betsy
Schwartz, vice president of public education and strategic
initiatives at the National Council for Behavioral Health. “Thanks
to the leadership of Walgreens, the National Council and APhA,
pharmacists trained in Mental Health First Aid can be a first line
of help for people when they possibly need it most.”
Also through this effort, and with Walgreens’ support, Mental
Health First Aid training will eventually become available to any
pharmacist industry-wide, and with the opportunity to earn
continuing education credits through APhA. The training can benefit
patients, as well as pharmacists, at a critical time.
“APhA is pleased to play an active role in this partnership,”
said APhA CEO Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, ScD (Hon), FAPhA.
“We applaud Walgreens, the National Council, practitioners and all
other employers who recognize and meet the needs of pharmacists and
the patients they serve. The issues of substance use and mental
health are real and acute. Arming our front lines with these
training and educational resources is a strong move in addressing
this crisis.”
In the workplace, Walgreens offers a wide variety of services
through its free employee assistance program, including an
allotment of behavioral health visits available at no cost for team
members and their families. All Walgreens-sponsored medical and
prescription drug plans also include comprehensive mental health
care for eligible employees.
“The overall health of our 240,000 team members and their
families is a top priority and as a company that champions health
and well-being in our communities across the U.S., we strive to do
everything we can as an employer to keep our workforce healthy,
physically and mentally,” said Kristin Oliver, Walgreens’ senior
vice president and chief human resources officer. “We’re proud to
offer this training program to hundreds of employees within our
human resources department, and through this collaboration, to give
more of our workforce critical tools and skills to better serve our
customers and our company.”
Walgreens Mental Health Platform
Walgreens launched its mental health platform
(Walgreens.com/mentalhealth) in May 2016 to help meet the growing
need for resources and access to care and to connect more people
with clinical resources in their community who can help. It
includes a mental health answers site that features informational
resources, content and a selection of free online screening tools
through program partner Mental Health America.
In addition, a behavioral telehealth solution provided by
Breakthrough, an MDLIVE company, is available through Walgreens
digital properties. Breakthrough offers access to more than 1,000
state-licensed therapists and psychiatrists to treat addiction,
depression, stress and other behavioral health concerns.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore
chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global
pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8
million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each
day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer
goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and
wellness services and advice. As of Aug. 31, 2018, Walgreens
operates 9,560 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
along with its omni-channel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately
400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider
retail clinic services.
About the American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the
American Pharmaceutical Association, is a 501 (c)(6) organization,
representing 60,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical
scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and others
interested in advancing the profession. APhA is dedicated to
helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient
care and is the first-established and largest association of
pharmacists in the United States. For more information, please
visit www.pharmacist.com.
About the National Council for Behavioral Health
The National Council for Behavioral Health is the
unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver
mental health and addictions treatment and services. Together with
our 3,000 member organizations serving over 10 million adults,
children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions,
the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to
comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for
recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First
Aid USA and more than 1.5 million Americans have been
trained.
1 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2017
National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190501005147/en/
Jim CohnPhone:
847-315-2950jim.cohn@walgreens.comhttp://news.walgreens.com@WalgreensNewsfacebook.com/Walgreens
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