Mental health first aid training will be rolled out to at least 1000 community pharmacists across South Australia, as part of a State Government election commitment to help deliver early detection and treatment.

The State Government has invested $350,000 over four years for the training as part of a $2.65m package of election commitments focused on improving and expanding pharmacy.

Following a competitive procurement process by SA Health and the Office of the Chief Pharmacist, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has been selected to deliver the specialised mental health training program.

This will see vital mental health first aid training delivered to at least 1000 community pharmacists and pharmacy staff, across both metropolitan and regional areas.

The specialised training will help improve early identification of mental health issues and provide appropriate initial support by the community pharmacy sector to people experiencing mental ill health.

The training includes understanding the signs and symptoms of mental ill health, as well as learning practical skills to support people experiencing a mental health problem; education of pharmacists and pharmacy staff on the types of help and support available and how to help people access the support they need, including referring to other services; provision of information about developing mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance abuse and support for pharmacists and pharmacy staff in identifying mental health crises.

About one in five adults will experience mental illness in any given year.

If left untreated, mental illness can result in presentations to hospital EDs, which is not always the best environment for people in mental health distress plus it places extra pressure on the hospital system.

This training is part of a suite of pharmacy-focused election commitments by the Malinauskas Government to help strengthen primary care and relieve pressure on the acute care system.

Other commitments include $900,000 to support the operation of three 24/7 pharmacies; $1m for medication reviews on discharge to reduce readmissions due to medication related issues; $250,000 to support improved access to palliative care medicines and $150,000 to improve testing and antiviral treatments for respiratory illnesses.

The government is also working on improving the scope of practice for pharmacists with the provision of vaccines.

In addition, a parliamentary committee is exploring how pharmacists could provide medication for some urinary tract infections without the need for a doctor’s prescription, following similar moves interstate.