Pharmacist Support has secured a grant from the COVID-19 Healthcare Support Appeal (CHSA) – a fund established to support health and care workers in the UK during and after the pandemic – “to provide direct psychological support for those who are experiencing mental health issues”, chief executive Danielle Hunt said.

The funding has helped Pharmacist Support establish a new partnership with locally-run charity The Counselling and Family Centre to offer pharmacists, trainees and students access to six counselling sessions, it explained.

More details will be available on the Pharmacist Support website on April 23.

The profession’s charity also confirmed its continued partnerships with the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA), the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Alphega Pharmacy, as it “moves into the new phase of our charitable journey” focused on “providing more tailored and emotional mental health support”, Ms Hunt said.

“We’ve come such a long way from the organisation we were 180 years ago and are proud of the way we have adapted and responded to the profession’s needs over this time,” Ms Hunt said.

“By working collaboratively and continuing to listen, we hope the charity will continue to provide an independent safe space for those in our pharmacy family to share their worries and access support for many more years to come,” she added.

For more information, visit the Pharmacist Support website.