Addressing Threats to Pharmacist Provision of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services

The mental health crisis in the United States continues to grow with no end in sight. Although it has been identified that pharmacist involvement is critical, the profession, as a whole, does not appear to be equipped to fully meet the challenges ahead as it pertains to the care of persons with mental health conditions. This paper outlines four key issues along with considerations to ensure pharmacists are part of the solution moving forward. The four issues identified include the Doctor of Pharmacy education, postgraduate residency training years 1 and 2, faculty attrition, and lack of clarity regarding the level of training/specialization needed to provide direct patient care in the area of mental health. Collaboration, both within and outside of the pharmacy profession, will be essential to ensure pharmacists are adequately prepared to address the mental health crisis.