Setting aside time in September

The ninth month of the year stirs up feelings of change – as daylight hours slowly start to creep away again and thoughts of autumn begin to swirl. Changing seasons is often a time where people may look to make health changes,  as people realize the year is getting on and they are perhaps not on track with their health goals. This provides a perfect opportunity for pharmacy teams to promote one of September’s health campaigns – Blood Pressure UK’s Know Your Numbers! Week. Changing seasons is also a time where people vulnerable to poor mental health may feel more unsettled, which makes the other campaign the pharmacy can get involved with this month – World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) – all the more important. 

Know Your Numbers!

From the 2-8 September, Blood Pressure UK will be running Know Your Numbers! Week, the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing awareness event. The main aim of the week, which is running under the theme ‘You Have the Power’, is to get people into the habit of testing their own blood pressure from home. High blood pressure has various associated risks, but most people only test their blood pressure every now and then, perhaps when going to the GP. Phil Pyatt, CEO of Blood Pressure UK, remarked how crucial it is for people to be aware of the risks of high blood pressure, saying: “It’s extremely important! In fact, there are millions of adults in the UK who could be living daily with undiagnosed blood pressure, increasing their chances of stroke, heart attack or unnecessary premature death. High blood pressure is also largely symptomless and the single biggest preventable cause of death in the UK. Therefore, the more people test themselves ideally with a home blood pressure monitor or at a local pharmacy or GP, the more chance they have of controlling it.”

Pharmacies are encouraged to get involved in the awareness campaign, and those who sign up (at bloodpressure.uk.org) before the end of August will receive resources via an email toolkit from Blood Pressure UK. Pharmacies can then become a ‘Pressure Partner’ and promote high blood pressure awareness by directing people to bloodpressureuk.org, offer guidance on how to use a monitor properly, advise people on how to look after their blood pressure and increase public knowledge of the risks of high blood pressure: heart disease, stroke, dementia. And, of course, to promote home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) by encouraging customers to purchase or share a blood pressure monitor.

Know Your Numbers! Week is primarily now an online campaign with a focus on home blood pressure monitoring but as part of this campaign, a few nurses, pharmacists, and occupational health and fitness professionals volunteer to offer blood pressure checks during the week, and some throughout the year,” said Phil. “Many pharmacies are part of the NHS hypertension case-finding service where the public can find a pharmacy nearby that offers free blood pressure checks to anyone over 40, so we encourage pharmacies that are part of this to actively promote this during the campaign week. Since many pharmacies do a brilliant job in helping patients assess their condition and make decisions about their medications, they also offer informed practical health and advice which is why they are so well placed to be talking to the public about blood pressure and the need for all adults to Know Your Numbers! by having a free blood pressure check.”

World Suicide Prevention Day

This year, World Suicide Prevention Day, which takes place on 10 September, is adopting the theme ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide,’ with the associated call to action ‘Start the Conversation’. Suicide is a sensitive and for some, a triggering topic, so as a pharmacy team, remember to broach this subject carefully amongst employees if you choose to support this health awareness campaign. 

“Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue,” says the WSPD website. “It’s about shifting from a culture of silence and lack of understanding to one of openness, empathy, and support.” Pharmacy teams engage with customers on a daily basis, and encouraging the team of be aware of signs of poor mental health may save someone’s life down the line. If you suspect someone may be struggling, here are some tips from Samaritans for how to start a conversation: 

• Choose a good time and somewhere without distractions
• Use open questions that require more than a yes or no answer. For example, "How are things, I've noticed that you don't seem quite yourself?"
• Listen well. "How is that making you feel?" 
• Avoid giving your view of what's wrong, or what they should do. 

There are more tips on the Samaritans website to help you and the team navigate these conversations, including language to use, what to do if you are seriously worried about someone, and resources you can download. 

Remember, that by promoting awareness for World Suicide Prevention Day in the pharmacy, you and your team may help even one person feel seen, or encourage them to reach out for help, and this is the biggest difference you can make.