Community Mental Health Pharmacy Team

Our team of specialist mental health pharmacists and pharmacy technicians is here to support you in managing and optimising mental health medications for your patients. We offer expertise in a wide range of situations and are ready to assist you with the following:

• When to contact us
• What our team can do
• Common areas we can advise on

When to contact us

You can reach out for support when:

• You have a clear diagnosis but need guidance on medication options or physical health monitoring.
• You’re managing complex medication regimens that require adjustment or optimisation.
• You’re considering alternative medications due to side effects, test results, or drug interactions.
• You need help selecting treatments that consider patient preferences, physical health conditions, or other long-term illnesses.

What our team can do

Depending on the case, our pharmacists or pharmacy technicians may provide:

• A focused medication review with the patient, followed by a detailed summary and recommendations for the prescriber, including a follow-up plan.
• Medication advice via email, phone, or written communication to the referring clinician.
• An initial consultation or review, with further input from the wider Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) if needed.

Common areas we can advise on

We frequently support primary care teams with guidance on:

• Switching medications (for example between different antidepressants).
• Starting or stopping mental health medications safely.
• Managing and monitoring side effects or adverse drug reactions.
• Understanding and managing drug interactions, including those with other medications or health conditions.
• Safe prescribing in special circumstances (e.g., during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or with kidney/liver issues).
• Improving medication adherence, simplifying treatment plans, or restarting medications after a break.
• Shared care arrangements for mental health medications.
• Ongoing medication and monitoring for patients recently discharged from Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) inpatient wards or outpatient clinics.