20 Min
In Pharmacy CPD Modules
CPD modules help to expand your clinical knowledge on a whole range of topics. Make sure you log your learning so you can track your progress and add to your online revalidation record.
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Scope of module
This module covers:
- How to open a conversation with a young person
- An overview of commonly prescribed medications for depression in young people
- How to make your pharmacy welcoming to young people and advise on useful adaptations that can be made to support neurodivergent individuals
- Wider resources for young people who can be signposted to further areas of support.
Key facts
- Adapting your communication style for young people can help them feel understood, heard and supported
- There are many different symptoms of depression other than just low mood, such as anhedonia (when an individual experiences a lack of pleasure from activities that they previously enjoyed), disorganised thinking, lack of motivation and feeling hopeless
- Young people need to be carefully monitored when starting an antidepressant. If they experience any increase in suicidal thoughts, these risks need to be urgently escalated
- Neurodivergent individuals can require adjustments in conversation styles and environment to support them in engaging with healthcare professionals.
Contributing authors:
Ami Hale MPharm, lead pharmacist for community mental health services; Louisa Marchant-Rutherford MPharm, lead pharmacist for inpatient mental health services, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
