A web-based mental health promotion intervention for pharmacy staff to reduce stigmatising and discriminating attitudes.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Stigma and discrimination can have a significant impact on successful mental health recovery. This research evaluated the effectiveness of a web-based mental health promotion intervention on stigma and discrimination in community pharmacies via assessment of staff attitudes, confidence and skills.

METHODS: Guided by the intervention mapping framework, we used experiential learning techniques, including pre-recorded consumer/carer narratives, role-plays and panel discussions accessed by participants in an innovative, flexible, web-based, program of modules. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used to evaluate the intervention effectiveness. Participants completed pre- (T1) and post-intervention (T2) questionnaires that contained both validated measures and questions developed or adapted specifically for this evaluation.

RESULTS: 566 pharmacy staff (357 pharmacists, 209 support staff) completed the intervention between September 2012 and May 2013; pharmacists completed eight online modules (4-hours total), support staff completed four (2-hours total). After participating, staff attitudes about mental health had changed in a positive direction; their confidence and skills when working with consumers and their carers had increased overall, although support staff remained less confident than pharmacists.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the involvement of consumers and carers in the intervention development and delivery was integral to reducing pharmacy staff stigma and enhancing confidence and communication skills.