“Not just labelling medicines”: Pharmacists' perspectives on their potential roles within youth mental health services

Background Youth mental illness is a significant global health concern, with increasing rates of psychological distress and unmet care needs. Despite their expertise in psychotropic medication management, pharmacists remain underutilised in youth mental health services, leaving their potential contributions to multidisciplinary care largely unexplored. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian pharmacists to explore their perspectives on medication use among young people and their potential roles in youth mental health services. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Eighteen pharmacists from diverse practice areas shared their insights, generating four key themes: (i) The Struggle for Equitable Access, highlighting systemic barriers to health service access; (ii) Medication as a Pillar, Not the Panacea, advocating for balanced psychotropic medication use alongside psychosocial interventions; (iii) Breaking the Dispensing Box, revealing pharmacists' aspirations to expand their roles beyond dispensing through greater clinical involvement; and (iv) Navigating Trust and Stigma, discussing the challenges of building trust with young people amid stigma. Conclusions Pharmacists are well-positioned to play a more integral role in youth mental healthcare by leveraging their expertise in medication management. However, role ambiguities, professional hierarchies, and stigma may restrict their contributions beyond “ just labelling medicines” . Clear role definitions, collaborative frameworks, and targeted education are essential to empower pharmacists to engage in multidisciplinary care, while addressing systemic barriers is critical to integrating them into youth mental health services and enhancing holistic care.