Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Among Community Pharmacists in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to assess the mental health literacy (MHL) of community pharmacists in Jordan and identify factors influencing stigma towards mental health disorders (MHDs). METHODS: A cross sectional survey design was used among an adequate sample of community pharmacists in Jordan; a pre-designed questionnaire was shared using Google Forms via social media. A multi-section survey queried knowledge based upon MHL as well as measures of stigma (The Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC-15) related to MHDs. Data were analyzed using SPSS® software, and linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with stigma toward MHDs. RESULTS: A total of 268 pharmacists participated in the study. The median age was 28 years (IQR = 5.0), and 36.2% (n = 97) reported receiving formal mental health training. Additionally, 81.7% (n = 219) expressed willingness to provide mental health support in their pharmacy practice. The median MHL score was 5.0 out of 9 (IQR = 4.0). Pharmacists generally reported low to moderate confidence in managing MHDs. The median OMS-HC-15 stigma score was 47.0 (IQR = 6.0), indicating moderate levels of stigma. The most commonly reported barriers to providing mental health care were lack of specialized training (76.1%), insufficient private space for confidential discussions (75.0%), lack of reimbursement for mental health services (74.6%), insufficient communication with other healthcare professionals (70.5%), and time constraints (69.4%). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher MHL scores were significantly associated with lower stigma scores (B = -0.927, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists in Jordan have expressed a desire to provide mental health care but experience challenges because of a lack of training and stigma. Enhancing the education of Community Pharmacists regarding mental health will allow them to take on a greater role in caring for patients with mental health needs.