Mental Health Lead Pharmacist appointment a first for country health

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving mental health outcomes in rural and regional WA with the appointment of the organisation’s first Lead Pharmacist for Mental Health.

Senior Pharmacist Amelia Arandiga was appointed to the role earlier this year and works with on-the-ground mental health teams across all seven regions.

WACHS Chief Pharmacy Adam Hort said the new role supports those on the frontline, providing even better care to local patients.

“By creating this role, we are ensuring specialist mental health pharmacy knowledge and understanding right across country WA,” he said.

“We are committed to providing high quality and culturally secure care and treatment for people experiencing mental health problems and pharmacy plays an important role in that.”

Ms Arandiga comes to the role with a career history in mental health medicines, spending six years working as a Senior Specialist Pharmacist in Mental Health for Top End Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs in the Northern Territory.

She has also worked as a Senior Pharmacist for Drug Information and Research at North Metropolitan Health Service where she managed and coordinated the state-wide psychotropic medicines information service.