The role of pharmacists in managing common mental health conditions in UK primary and secondary care settings: a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction Mental health (MH) conditions place a significant disease burden on the UK. Pharmacists are healthcare professionals and may contribute to addressing this burden; however, the evidence regarding their specific role in MH care in the UK is sparse. Objective The objective of this review was to assess the evidence regarding pharmacists’ roles in managing common MH conditions within UK primary and secondary care settings. Methods A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Web of Science (Core collection) databases for English-language studies published between 2004 and 2024 were accessed. Eligible studies were UK-based and reported pharmacists’ involvement in MH care. Data were charted and synthesized into descriptive themes. Key findings Fourteen studies highlighted pharmacists’ multifaceted roles in MH care across primary and secondary care settings. Key domains included prescribing and deprescribing, medicines management, patient education, team collaboration, and specialized services such as assessments, referrals, and social prescribing. Pharmacist involvement improved medication optimization, patient understanding, and interdisciplinary communication, though gaps in MH training and role standardization were noted. Conclusion Pharmacists play diverse roles in supporting MH services through medicines optimization, prescribing support, and multidisciplinary collaboration, and have positive impacts on adherence and medicines management, but limited evidence on effectiveness. Strengthening pharmacist integration, workforce training, and evaluation of scalable interventions is essential to enhance their contribution to MH care in the UK.