Conclusions

People starting an antidepressant appreciate support in the early weeks of treatment. It might make the difference between them continuing on treatment (or even whether they start it) and their depression improving, or them discontinuing and not benefiting. Community pharmacy teams have huge potential for helping to improve the quality of life of people with depression.

Final tips

When speaking to people about their depression:

• Try saying: “I need to ask you a couple of difficult questions, is that okay? It’s important to check whether you are safe”
• Ask about suicidal thoughts and thoughts of self-harm
• Make sure you have crisis mental health numbers at hand and that you know if your local surgeries have mental health practitioners available and how to refer in or contact them
  • Making a real connection is vitally important – it is not just a tick-box exercise.