Walgreens Boots Alliance Expands Pharmacist Training, New Initiatives to Help Meet Growing Need for Mental Health Resources

By: Walgreens Boots Alliance via Business Wire

October 21, 2021 at 09:00 AM EDT

Walgreens makes mental health first aid available for 27,000 pharmacists chainwide; Boots offering new services through digital platforms

Company partnering with LifeWorks, Mental Health America to evolve framework and strategies for a mentally healthy workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on population health around the world, and has created even greater demand for access to care and resources in the area of mental health. Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) today announced it is expanding Mental Health First Aid training for more than 27,000 Walgreens pharmacists, while Boots is introducing new services aimed at helping to meet the growing need in communities across Europe and the UK.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression alone among U.S. adults have more than tripled since the onset of the pandemic. More than 40,000 Walgreens and Boots pharmacists, medication experts on the frontlines of care, are uniquely positioned to help as an integral part of patients’ care teams.

“The majority of our patients and customers see their pharmacist more than they do any other healthcare provider, and especially now, pharmacists can play an even greater role with the additional training to help those who may be in crisis,” said Rick Gates, senior vice president of pharmacy for Walgreens. “The pandemic has exacerbated what was already widely considered to be a mental health crisis, and we’re proud to further our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities by taking additional steps through these and other initiatives.”

Mental Health First Aid Training

Walgreens first introduced Mental Health First Aid training for certain team members in the company’s human resources department in 2019, and later made the program available for some of its pharmacy staff, including those focused on improving health outcomes.

As Walgreens begins to expand the training to be available for all of its pharmacists chainwide, the company has been prioritizing its retail locations in areas most impacted by the pandemic.

Mental Health First Aid, administered by the National Council for Behavioral Health, trains participants in mental health literacy, understanding risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns and strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

Walgreens, the National Council and American Pharmacists Association spearheaded the initiative to create a training program specially tailored for pharmacists, which is now available industrywide.

In Europe and the UK, Boots has also completed a mental health first aid training program for some pharmacy staff in field team roles, as well as support office functions and Boots’ pharmacy support helpdesk.

Boots Launching New Services Through its Health Hub and Online Doctor Platforms

Boots has partnered with Ieso Digital Health to offer its “How Are Things” mood and symptom checker, a class 1 medical device, through the Boots Health Hub – a digital resource offering a wide range of healthcare and pharmacy services. “How Are Things” is available online to patients 18 years and older.

Boots will also soon launch a new mental health service and offering through its Boots Online Doctor platform, which went live earlier this year. The service is planned to be available by the end of 2021.

Walgreens Find Care, an expanded digital health platform, also offers mental health services through providers including BetterHelp and Sanvello. Many of the local and national healthcare partners listed on Find Care offer mental and behavioral healthcare services as well.

Walgreens Partnering with LifeWorks and Mental Health America to Support Workplace Initiatives

Walgreens is proud to offer benefits, resources and tools that support team members’ mental health through the company’s Life365 Employee Assistance Program, in partnership with LifeWorks. The program offers an allotment of free behavioral health counseling and support services to team members and their immediate families, and also includes a robust digital platform providing work-life balance tools and tips, as well as other helpful resources.

All company sponsored medical and prescription drug plans also include comprehensive mental health care for eligible employees.

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating an even greater focus on mental health and wellbeing for employers, Walgreens is building on its partnership with Mental Health America (MHA) to help support MHA’s industry leading workplace mental health initiatives.

This includes ongoing research into different factors that impact employees' social, emotional, and mental health in various workplace settings as part of its Mind the Workplace Report series, as well as support of MHA’s Framework for a Mentally Healthy Workplace – a practical guide designed to help employers everywhere.

These initiatives culminate in MHA’s nearly 40 years of experience in workplace mental health.

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is a global leader in retail pharmacy, impacting millions of lives every day through dispensing medicines, and providing accessible, high-quality care. With more than 170 years of trusted healthcare heritage and innovation in community pharmacy, the company is meeting customers' and patients' needs through its convenient retail locations, digital platforms and health and beauty products.

WBA has a presence in more than 9 countries, employs more than 315,000 people and has more than 13,000 stores in the U.S., Europe and Latin America.

WBA’s purpose is to inspire more joyful lives through better health. The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. WBA is a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business.

More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

(WBA-GEN)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211021005339/en/

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