Ask About Medicines Week 2008
3 – 7 November 2008.
The focus for Ask About Medicines Week 2008 was people with mental health problems; supporting them to ask questions about their medicines – both medicines for mental health problems and medicines for other conditions.
The campaign theme was Asking About Medicines If You Have A Mental Health Problem and targetted the public, carers and health professionals. These were the key messages for the campaign:
Messages for Public:
- For most people with mental health problems, medicines have a part to play in the process of recovery.
- All medicines can have short or long term side effects, so it's essential to work out which ones suit each person best.
- Always ask questions about your medicines so that you can make better informed choices.
- Carers supporting people with mental health problems should also have the opportunity to ask questions and get information about medicines.
Messages for Health Professionals:
- For most people with mental health problems, medicines have a part to play in the process of recovery.
- Encouraging your patients to make informed decisions about their medicines can help to ensure that they take them, thus reducing relapse and waste.
- Although most people with mental health problems have the capacity to weigh up treatment choices, they may need special encouragement and support to ask questions about medicines. This applies to medicines they are taking for physical ailments too.
- Carers supporting people with mental health problems also need the opportunity to ask questions and get information about medicines.
For Pharmacists:
- Medicines Use Review can be an effective tool to help people with mental health problems cope with side effects and get the most out of their medicines.
Page last edited: 24 June 2011
