
Counselling
If you would benefit from professional psychological support, we offer a confidential counselling service. You can access counselling sessions via phone, Zoom or for those within travelling distance to Altrincham, face to face.
This page provides an introduction to how and where you can get mental health and wellbeing help. This includes through Pharmacist Support, the NHS, and other charities and organisations.
Self-help has helped lots of pharmacists. However, for many people who are struggling with their wellbeing and mental health, accessing support can be really important.
Wellbeing and mental health help can include emotional support, counselling, support groups, coaching and many other things. It may be focused on your work as a pharmacist, your personal life, or a mix. Some support is tailored for health professionals and other support is more general.
This page provides information about where you can find mental health and wellbeing support. The support options outside of Pharmacist Support may also be available to members of the pharmacy team who are not eligible for our services.
There are different ways pharmacists can get help for their mental health and wellbeing.
For example, if you feel you may benefit from a diagnosis and treatment, you may wish to speak to your NHS GP. Or if you would prefer to seek this type of help outside the NHS, you could look into private medical help through a doctor or psychiatrist.
Many people are more interested in seeking support for how they are feeling rather than accessing a diagnosis or medical treatment. Some of these options may be available for free through charities such as Pharmacist Support, others may be available to pay for privately.
Below we have listed a few key places where pharmacists, pharmacy students and trainees may be able to access wellbeing and mental health support. This is not an exhaustive list and we may add to this as our website develops. Some services may only be available to specific pharmacy sectors or countries.
In addition to our wellbeing workshops, we currently offer three direct wellbeing support services that have helped many pharmacists, pharmacy students and trainee pharmacists. Details of these services are below.
We are able to provide direct psychological support for those who are experiencing mental health issues. These sessions are available through our counselling partnership.
The counsellors are there to help you deal with a variety of issues. By seeking constructive help, you may identify ways of addressing the root causes of your concerns in order to help you to cope.
You can access counselling by filling in a self-referral form.
Click here for more information on counselling and to access the self-referral form.
Our Listening Friends service offers you the choice of speaking in confidence and anonymously to one of our trained volunteer pharmacists. The peer support provides you with an opportunity to talk about the stresses or pressures working in or studying pharmacy may be causing you. Our volunteers do not provide advice, but they recognise the pressures of pharmacy practice and will offer you the time and space to talk through those issues to try to find clarity. They can also sign post you to other organisations who can provide further specialised help and support.
Click here for more information on Listening Friends and how to request a call.
We provide addiction support to individuals experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating disorders or other types of dependency. Our Addiction Support service also helps family members and others supporting someone with addiction.
Click here for more information on our Addiction Support service and the contact details.
Please note our wellbeing support services cannot provide emergency support. Should you require urgent assistance, we recommend you contact the Samaritans, your GP or visit your local A&E department. Our wellbeing services are not a replacement for speaking with your GP if you have any concerns about your health.
Starting with your GP when looking for additional support can be a great first step. In England, another way you may be able to access NHS counselling is through self-referral. This is often done through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. You can begin the process of self-referral to see if a local IAPT service can help you on the NHS website.
Many employees can access free wellbeing support through their employer. This could include emotional support or counselling through an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
Universities have a range of services to support student wellbeing. This differs from university to university. The best place to start will often be your university’s website. The charity Student Minds also has some information on where students can get help.
If you can afford it, there may be some great paid options. Benefits of private support or treatment can include not having to go through the NHS, which can mean quicker access and more specialist support. Although we cannot recommend one service over another, you can find a counsellor, therapist, or coach through professional bodies, such as:
If you would benefit from professional psychological support, we offer a confidential counselling service. You can access counselling sessions via phone, Zoom or for those within travelling distance to Altrincham, face to face.
Most people experience feelings of anxiety at some points in their life and is not uncommon. This page provides information about anxiety and where you can find support.
On this page you can find the definition of the five ways to wellbeing. As well as a self-study module with ideas on how you can implement them into your life to help manage your own mental wellbeing.