Abstract
This study aimed to explore the stigma, barriers, and improvements needed for providing effective mental health care in community pharmacies in Jordan. A qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 20 community pharmacists. The interviews were conducted in December 2024. Thematic analysis was applied to identify themes. A total of 20 pharmacists were interviewed. Pharmacists reported significant stigma among patients with mental health disorders, often due to societal pressures. However, within the pharmacy environment, pharmacists showed minimal stigma and demonstrated empathy. Key barriers identified included communication challenges, particularly the lack of privacy. Proposed improvements focused on enhancing education and training through workshops and continuous professional development. Community pharmacists play a critical role in mental health care but face challenges such as stigma, communication issues, and knowledge gaps. Addressing these barriers through better training could significantly enhance the ability of pharmacists to provide effective mental health support.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
