Supporting pharmacists’ wellbeing: How Pharmacist Support tackled burnout head-on

Passionate about evidence-based practice, Melissa Cochrane and her team works to reduce stigma around mental health and promote healthier workplace cultures. Here’s how she’s tackled burnout at Pharmacist Support.

Member fact file:

Pharmacist Support has been a member of the Charity Learning Consortium since 2021, utilising both its content and learning management system. The organisation won the Excellence in Workforce Wellbeing at the Charity Learning Conference & Awards 2024 for its groundbreaking course helping leaders nurture a culture of wellbeing.

The challenge: Burnout in the pharmacy profession

Pharmacists are working in increasingly high-pressure environments, particularly within community pharmacies and the NHS. For several years, joint research by Pharmacist Support and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has shown consistently high levels of risk of burnout.

In the 2023 survey, the findings were stark:

86% of pharmacists reported being at high risk of burnout.
In community pharmacy, the figure rose to 93%.

These shocking statistics highlighted the urgent need for change and gave Pharmacist Support a clear direction: supporting pharmacist well-being had to go beyond the individual – it needed to involve the workplace.

Watch Melissa’s interview with Learning Now TV

The solution: Building an evidence-based well-being programme

Recognising that burnout is defined by the World Health Organisation as an occupational phenomenon, Pharmacist Support designed a programme that addressed workplace culture, not just individual resilience.

The programme focused on:

Managers as change-makers: helping managers understand the crucial role they play in supporting staff wellbeing.
Soft skills training: communication, active listening, and how to have “important conversations.”
Normalising mental health discussions: encouraging leaders to integrate wellbeing into regular team meetings and to share their own challenges when appropriate.
Destigmatising mental health: breaking down the fear and uncertainty many managers feel when discussing mental health at work.

“Many managers know there’s a problem but don’t know what to do. Our programme gives them the tools and confidence to talk about mental health without fear of making things worse.”

The role of leadership: Building an evidence-based wellbeing programme

Senior leaders were key to the programme’s success. Pharmacist Support encouraged leaders to model healthy behaviours such as taking breaks, to show staff that wellbeing is valued and supported.

“If people don’t see their leaders doing it, they won’t feel able to themselves,” says Melissa. “Leaders have to set the tone by modelling good practices and being open about their own challenges.”

This leadership approach creates psychologically healthy organisations, where people feel safe to speak up and supported when facing difficulties.

The impact: Award-winning work

The Charity Learning Consortium recognised Pharmacist Support’s innovative, evidence-based programme with an award for wellbeing. The programme stands out because it moves beyond individual responsibility to tackle the systemic, workplace factors that contribute to burnout.

By shifting the conversation to workplace culture, Pharmacist Support has provided a sustainable model for improving pharmacist wellbeing.

Why wellbeing matters for everyone

While the programme was designed for pharmacists, the lessons apply across all sectors. Healthy workplaces mean:

Reduced sickness absence.
Improved productivity.
Greater staff retention.
Stronger organisational culture.

Most importantly, they mean healthier, happier people.

Conclusion

Pharmacist Support demonstrates that even a small charity can make a big difference. By grounding their approach in evidence and focusing on systemic change, they are tackling burnout where it begins in the workplace.

“We can’t just leave it up to individuals to manage their own wellbeing. Workplaces must be part of the solution.”

About Melissa

Melissa Cochrane is the Wellbeing Development Senior Manager. She oversees counselling, peer support, and volunteer programmes, and designs workshops and resources to help pharmacists protect their wellbeing.