Targeted programs lead the way in Nollamara

Pharmacy of the Year winner for 2016, Pharmacy 777 Nollamara, has not rested on its laurels after winning the award and has continued to develop its flagship mental health program.

Proprietor Swarup Afsar said a high incidence of substance abuse associated with mental health issues in the area has seen the pharmacy expand its mental health service provision and develop special programs targeting substance and alcohol abuse.

Mr Afsar said the area the pharmacy serviced had a very high incidence of drug abuse, and also alcohol abuse.

“We saw that there was a need to help the community by extending our mental health services by providing targeted programs and services for these vulnerable people,” he said.

“We have had a methadone program for some time but I think the deaths of a couple of our patients highlighted that we had to help the community by setting something up for our customers and the members of the community with abuse issues.

“The basis of many of these is a mental health problem or problems and so we saw this as the best way to help these patients.”

The pharmacy now provided counselling sessions in groups, as well as one-on-one for patients who did not feel comfortable in a group. Staff has found the groups to be very successful as people felt freer to talk in front of other people who may be going through similar experiences.

“It helps them to see that they are not alone,” he said.

“The local GPs are very supportive of our approach and are referring patients to us.

“We have become something of a mental health hub in the area, particularly now for people with abuse problems.”

Mr Afsar said the service also helped patients ensure they were compliant and could refer them to local networks for further help and advice if necessary.

“We counsel, advise and listen. We also are very non-judgmental and have packs available so patients don’t use dirty needles and so on,” he said.

“The safety and wellbeing is paramount for these abuse patients. Patients can walk in or be referred by their doctor and they know that in the pharmacy they are in a safe place and with people who understand their needs and will listen to them.”

Pharmacy 777 Nollamara set up its mental health module after learning from its community interactions that this was an area of need.

When the pharmacy developed its Mental Health Protocol, it consulted eight GPs in the area as well as two psychiatrists.

Mr Afsar said this resulted in the module being developed to promote compliance checks more consistently and help patients seek cognitive behavioural therapies including counselling and hypnotherapy.

“All these services are still there and available to our substance abuse patients as well as other mental health patients. They have just been expanded now that we have broadened our focus.”

As part of its module, the pharmacy helps to ensure the patient is medication compliant, it investigates any sleep disorders and provides counselling/hypnotherapy services where appropriate.

“Our Mental Health Module looks at every mental illness sufferer as a whole,” Mr Afsar said.

This week is your last chance to enter the 2019 Guild Pharmacy of the Year competition. If your pharmacy has what it takes to be our next champion, enter online by COB Friday 3 August at pharmacyoftheyear.com.au.