Research finds mental health training improves pharmacists’ readiness to help patients

When most people think about mental health care, they probably picture a therapist's office or a hospital clinic. But for many people, one of the most common points of contact with a health care provider is their local pharmacist.

A 2025 study suggests that pharmacists and pharmacy students can strengthen their ability to support people experiencing mental health challenges by receiving Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.

Researchers with the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences examined evidence from multiple studies evaluating MHFA training in pharmacy settings. Overall, the analysis found measurable improvements after training, particularly in mental health knowledge and in participants' preparedness to respond.

Why pharmacists are part of the mental health conversation

Pharmacists are among the most accessible health professionals in many communities and often see patients more frequently than other clinicians. That puts them in a position to have conversations that may not happen elsewhere, especially for people who are not connected to mental health services or lack a primary care physician.

At the same time, pharmacists have reported feeling underprepared to respond when someone shows signs of a mental health concern. MHFA is intended to address that gap by teaching participants how to recognize warning signs, communicate in a supportive way, and encourage appropriate professional help.

What the research found

Because this study was a systematic review and meta-analysis, it combined results from prior research to evaluate overall trends.

The findings showed:

• Increases in mental health knowledge among pharmacists and pharmacy students after MHFA training

• Improvement in survey-based measures of attitudes, confidence, or self-efficacy, indicating participants felt more capable of responding.

The authors also note that many studies measured outcomes shortly after training and that more research is needed to understand how long these effects last and whether they translate into changes in practice and patient outcomes.

A step toward stronger support

MHFA is not a replacement for therapy or medical treatment. But the evidence in this review suggests it can improve pharmacists' and pharmacy students' readiness, at least in the short term, to engage more effectively with mental health concerns.

"These types of analyses suggest that community pharmacists have the potential to influence patient outcomes beyond that of purely dispensing and counseling," says Kyle Burghardt, PharmD, pharmacy practice at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. "As one of the most frequented health contact points for patients, community pharmacists should continue to innovate and improve patient health not only in depression but in other health areas as well."

As access challenges continue to shape the mental health field, training that increases the number of health professionals equipped to recognize concerns may help strengthen the system overall. For community pharmacists, whose roles already extend well beyond dispensing medications, that preparation can create more opportunities to identify needs early and guide patients toward appropriate care.