Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Mental Elf

@thementalelf.bsky.social

6.6K followers 1.3K following 1.7K posts

🌤️ Hello, I’m the Mental Elf! 🌳 Follow me to keep up to date with the latest reliable #MentalHealthResearch. LIVE TODAY from #CMHP25 in Liverpool Do you need some #ElfHelp? https://elfi.sh/help 🔗 https://linktr.ee/thementalelf

elfi.sh

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 7h

Our first #CMHP25 keynote is Dr Mary Doherty @autisticdoctor.bsky.social Clinical Associate Professor at UCD & founder of Autistic Doctors International.

She will explore how autistic psychiatrists’ insights can help improve mental healthcare for autistic people. autisticdoctorsinternational.com

Autistic Doctors International

Do you identify as autistic and have a medical degree?

autisticdoctorsinternational.com

1 3 10

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 4m

My pleasure! It was an excellent conference. #CMHP25

Thanks for inviting me and I hope we get to work together again in future.

Props to all the dedicated and hard working pharmacists and pharmacy technicians 👏🏽

Reposted by The Mental Elf

College of Mental Health Pharmacy @cmhpcommunity.pharmsky.app · 1h

Thank you @thementalelf.bsky.social and Andre for your work over the last 2 days making our conference accessible to more than just the people in the room. We really valued your insightful commentary on all the sessions! #cmhp25

1 1 2

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

This is André from the Mental Elf signing off and wishing all of the #CMHP25 delegates safe journeys home 👋 I'm heading back to the elfin woodland at the end of the rainbow 🌈 (just outside Bristol). See you next time! @cmhpcommunity.pharmsky.app

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

Thanks to everyone who joined in person and online for #CMHP25. The energy, openness, and commitment to improving care have been outstanding. Until next year: keep asking questions, sharing evidence, and championing change.

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

A few final words now from Karen Shukar, President of @cmhpcommunity.pharmsky.app who is thanking all of the speakers, delegates, exhibitors, partners and the venue here in Liverpool. #CMHP25

Next year will be in Oct 2026.

1 3

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

Overall, today’s sessions showed the complexity of modern health care and the importance of research-informed pharmacy leadership across every setting. #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

Dr Caroline Copeland's new research looking at fatal drug overdoses in healthcare workers was fascinating and moving. I'll certainly be covering that on the Mental Elf in the near future. Vital research that is unearthing a hidden issue that needs urgent attention #CMHP25

1 1 3

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

It was interesting to hear Sion Scott apply behavioural change theory to managing antipsychotic side-effects. Definitely work to keep an eye on. It think he's about half way through this research, so perhaps we'll hear more at a future @cmhpcommunity.pharmsky.app conference? #CMHP25

1 1 2

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

Mary Doherty's @autisticdoctor.bsky.social talk on autistic healthcare professionals was incredible & I got quite emotional hearing her talk about the shame she & other autistic people feel. Wow! We've come a long way in recent years with neurodiversity, but there is SO MUCH work still to do #CMHP25

1 1 2

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

I really enjoyed all the talks today - I learned a lot on a really diverse range of topics - great programming from the #CMHP25 organisers!

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

First of all, we are going to experience a quick mindfulness exercise with Dr Asta Prajapati
@mentalspa.bsky.social who is joining us via video recording #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 2h

Well, now #CMHP25 in Liverpool is coming to a close after another full day of learning and reflection.

It's been a fantastic 2 days that has reminded us how inclusive, evidence-based practice can save lives and change systems.

THREAD 🧵

1 3

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

"Death is the ultimate adverse drug event, but each death can tell us how to prevent the next."

Great talk from Caroline Copeland highlighting this hidden problem. It's important that pharmacists & pharmacy technicians educate themselves about substance misuse to provide high quality care #CMHP25

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

Caroline's solutions included:

prevention (not reducing diversion, supporting ppl)

detection (not tracking substances, detecting ppl's struggles)

early intervention (open culture for supporting staff, reducing stigma)

treatment and recovery (better access, return to work exemplars)

#CMHP25

1 2

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

There was a high prevalence of people having access to drugs, including hospital-only drugs. Very few cases involved illicit substances. Most were taken from work. Although coroner reports may have under-reported these. Private prescriptions were feasible #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

Where drug overdose deaths in healthcare professionals have happened, physical and mental health problems have been common. Recent events are also important (e.g. relationship breakups, fitness at work investigations), as is chronic pain. History of substance use is often hidden. #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

Many healthcare workers have access to controlled drugs and the knowledge about how drugs work and how they can be taken #CMHP25

Coupled with the very stressful working environments and burnout in the NHS, this becomes a perfect storm.

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

Caroline is moving on to talk about a new paper on fatal drug overdoses in healthcare workers: A thematic framework analysis of coroner reports. Addiction doi.org/10.1111/add.... #CMHP25

She explains that her anaesthetist husband has lost 3 colleagues in this way in only 15 years. It's a big issue!

Fatal drug overdoses in healthcare workers: A thematic framework analysis of coroner reports

Background and aims Healthcare workers face specific vulnerabilities for drug overdose due to their unique access to medications, clinical knowledge and work-related stress. This study aimed to unde.....

doi.org

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

There has been a majority return to daily supervised methadone, says Caroline #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

The biggest increase in methadone related deaths came from people who were not in active receipt of a methadone prescription, which suggests diversion, i.e. prescribed methadone is sold to others #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

This change in Methadone dispensing led to an increase in deaths

Aldabergenov et al., (2022). Methadone and buprenorphine-related deaths among people prescribed and not prescribed Opioid Agonist Therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Int J Drug Policy doi.org/10.1016/j.dr... #CMHP25

Redirecting

doi.org

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 5h

Now Caroline moves on to talking about methadone.

During the pandemic the dispensing of methadone changed from daily dosing in a pharmacy to giving patients bottles that last for 2 weeks. There were good reasons for this, but it resulted in lots of methadone in the community #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 6h

There's increasing evidence saying that sedating anti-histamines are really bad sleep aids, and we can improve sleep hygiene better.

Many countries have taken these drugs off the pharmacy shelves already, and made them prescription only #CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 6h

Is there an argument for making sedating anti-histamines prescription only?

Pros: (harm reduction, unlicensed (unsafe) use, control pack size, enhance clinician oversight, drive better patient/professional understanding)

Cons: workload, reduced access, loss of self-care, script charges
#CMHP25

1 1

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 6h

We need a more holistic assessment says Caroline. The 'use context' is important. We generally think that sedating anti-histamines are safe and not addictive.

Opioid users report that anti-histamines can enhance the opioid high, reduce the opioid related itch, help to blunt withdrawal etc #CMHP25

1 1