(1181) #atimetotalk: A Strategy to Destigmatize Depression in a Community Pharmacy Setting

Objectives: One in five adults in the United States (U.S.) have depression and are at risk for suicide, the ELEVENTH leading cause of death in the U.S. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OFFERED IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY SETTINGS COULD IMPROVE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH BY INCREASING ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SCREENING SERVICES. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES WERE FOR WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT PHARMACISTS TO IMPLEMENT DEPRESSION SCREENING EVENTS, TITLED #ATIMETOTALK, TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, RESOURCES, AND REFERRALS AND TO ASSESS PATIENTS’ WILLINGNESS TO UTILIZE THESE SERVICES IN A COMMUNITY PHARMACY SETTING. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE WAS TO EVALUATE PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE-9 (PHQ-9) SCORES.

Methods: TWENTY-FIVE student pharmacists WERE trained in Mental Health First Aid IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE #ATIMETOTALK DEPRESSION SCREENING EVENTS. EACH EVENT TOOK PLACE AT A MEIJER PHARMACY LOCATED IN MICHIGAN AND WAS LED BY THREE STUDENT PHARMACISTS WITH ONE PRECEPTOR. Participants 18-90 years old were recruited on site to COMPLETE A DEPRESSION SCREENING USING the PHQ-9. ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED COUNSELING FROM THE STUDENT PHARMACISTS TO INTERPRET THEIR PHQ-9 SCORE AND IDENTIFY LOCAL RESOURCES FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE. THE COUNSELING AND INFORMATION PROVIDED WAS BASED ON THE PARTICIPANT'S PREFERENCES AND TOP MENTAL HEALTH PRIORITIES. EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVED A MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE, A BOOKLET CREATED BY THE STUDENT PHARMACISTS THAT CONTAINED INFORMATION REGARDING LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND SUPPORT HOTLINES. FACT SHEETS FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH WERE GIVEN TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, COPING STRATEGIES, AND WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE. A 2-week follow-up was completed via phone or email and participants reported on actions taken since the initial visit; they also received a $20 incentive after the follow-up. Participant satisfaction data was collected at the initial screening and follow-up. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests were used in data analysis.

Results: A TOTAL OF 12 #ATIMETOTALK DEPRESSION SCREENING EVENTS WERE HELD FROM JUNE 1 THROUGH JULY 27, 2023. Seventy participants completed the PHQ-9 AND RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION. The mean age was 52 ± 19.54 years old and 75.7% were female. PHQ-9 scores ranged from 0-24 with an average SCORE of 3.96 ± 4.44, WHICH REPRESENTS MINIMAL LEVEL OF DEPRESSION SEVERITY. PARTICIPANTS OLDER THAN 55 YEARS OF AGE HAD AN AVERAGE PHQ-9 SCORE OF 2.81 ± 3.38, COMPARED TO PARTICIPANTS YOUNGER THAN 55 YEARS OF AGE WHO HAD AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 5.18 ± 5.12 (p-value = 0.0246). PARTICIPANTS WITH A PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION (25.7%) HAD AN AVERAGE PHQ-9 SCORE OF 6.94 ± 5.67, COMPARED TO THOSE WITHOUT A PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION WHO HAD AN AVERAGE SCORE OF 2.92 ± 3.43 (p-value = 0.0006). Most participants (92.9%) reported that #ATimeToTalk depression screening events were helpful. Over 90% (65/70) of participants completed the 2-week follow-up and 92.3% reported they are comfortable seeking mental health services from a pharmacist IN THE FUTURE. About half (53.8%) reported reading the educational materials provided and 24.6% helped a friend/family member. Some participants (16.9%) made a follow-up appointment for care after their initial visit, 38.9% of which had a history of depression (p=0.0033).

Conclusions: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE #ATimeToTalk depression screening events WAS SUCCESSFUL AND PROVIDED increased access to mental health services IN A COMMUNITY PHARMACY SETTING. THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPANTS HAD A PHQ-9 SCORE THAT REFLECTED A MINIMAL LEVEL OF DEPRESSION SEVERITY. Participants found THE DEPRESSION SCREENING EVENTS helpful and are willing to utilize these services in a community pharmacy setting. Integration of mental health services offered by community pharmacists has the potential to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the community.