Lived experience with suicide significantly affected how pharmacists supported at-risk patients and could be used to improve patient care, according to experts at The University of Western Australia.
Dr Joseph Carpini, from UWA Business School, and Professor Rhonda Clifford, Associate Professor Liza Seubert and Dr Deena Ashoorian, from UWA's School of Health and Clinical Sciences and Centre for Optimisation of Medicines, co-authored the paper published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice.
Researchers analysed the responses of an anonymous online study distributed to registered pharmacists, interns and students in Australia.
"Knowing someone affected by suicide was linked to greater motivation and use of recommended support strategies," Dr Carpini said.
"While no lived experience, or a pharmacist who had a personal experience, with suicide often had a less effective response."
The study found suicide prevention training should include contributions from pharmacists who had lived experience with suicide to help develop empathy and insight.
"Pharmacy education and ongoing professional development should promote reflective practice to help pharmacists understand how their lived experiences influence patient care," Professor Clifford said.
"It is important that all pharmacists are equipped with strategies to manage emotional responses and reduce reliance on unhelpful or stigmatising support behaviours."
The study highlighted the importance of self-awareness, empathy and tailored training for pharmacists in mental health crises.
"Pharmacists are both frontline responders and, at times, lived-experience experts themselves, which makes their role in suicide prevention more crucial than ever," Dr Carpini said.
