Today, 1 in 5 Americans experience mental health illness. There’s work to be done to ensure all patients receive care for their overall health. During May, the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs wants to help amplify awareness of mental health by offering these 7 ideas to raise mental health awareness as an MSL.

What is mental health?

In our society, more than 40 million Americans struggle with mental health illnesses on a daily basis. Mental health in its simplest definition includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It encompasses how we think, feel, act, handle stress, and make choices. Left untreated, mental health can lead to depression, substance use disorders, and the risk of suicide. These consequences were prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals were laid off from their jobs or lost friends and family members, causing increased anxiety and mental fatigue. 

What is the role of MSLs? 

Medical Science Liaisons are essential for pharmaceutical companies when bringing a drug product to market. MSLs and the rest of the medical affairs team act as a bridge between research and development and drug commercialization. They also have key relationships with healthcare providers (HCPs), Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and other decision-makers that carry influence on important topics in healthcare. Their ability to make these connections and bring in insights from these influencers back to the pharma team can be used to spread awareness on topics that are not well known.   

As discussed, the role of an MSL is unique in that they are primarily responsible for educating providers, patients, and other healthcare professionals on therapies that can benefit patients. MSLs can play a key role in furthering the conversation by raising awareness about mental illnesses. They are essential in gathering data and learning experiences with mental health and providing these insights to pharmaceutical companies to push for more recognition. 

The following are ways MSLs can further the conversation in mental health: 

1. Talk It Out

As an MSL, outreach to healthcare providers, patients, and officials is important. Just talking to patients and colleagues about how they are doing and listening to their experiences can shed light on the mental health landscape. As an MSL, you can take these experiences and insights back to pharmaceutical companies and advocate for change. Either through publications or assistance in brand messaging, using the medical affairs platform can help open conversations with key leaders and decision-makers to fight for more reform that individuals can lean on. 

2. Create/Attend Mental Health Awareness Events

• Be a voice in the community. 

• Coordinate with patient advocacy groups that educate, promote, and provide support services to improve the lives of patients and family members affected by mental illness. 

• Partner with groups such as the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) or the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) to create a safe space for people to talk about any mental health adversities they are facing. 

• Attend meetings, conferences, and medical congress events to learn and discuss with other healthcare professionals and industry leaders on how to tackle mental health illness in patients and advocate for change. 

3. Use Social Media As A Positive

Share facts and helpful tips on social media to spread your message of awareness. Making blog posts or starting a forum can help community outreach and promote a safe, judgment-free platform to voice any difficulties. Informing healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders and lawmakers about the statistics and data on the lack of mental health awareness today can be beneficial to starting a coalition on leading the cause. 

4. Know that Change Does Not Happen Overnight

Be a leader in mental health awareness. This does not mean do it all in one day. Gradually build a supportive community through education and outreach to promote understanding of mental health illnesses. Meet with like-minded individuals in the medical field to understand their thoughts on mental health and how we can collaborate to make change a reality.

5. Educate Yourself

Learn about different illnesses and conditions to better gauge your understanding of how to identify signs and symptoms of individuals  undergoing mental health issues

6. Be a Resource

As MSLs, you are in a unique position to disseminate information to and from our key opinion leaders. Use that information and those influences in raising awareness and creating publications, and communicating about events that can guide patients through mental health. Use your role as a bridge to inform HCPs about how to tackle mental health and watch for signs and symptoms in their own patients. 

7. Stay Informed

Get involved with patient advocacy groups, attend medical conferences and congresses, and lead awareness through the use of social media. As an MSL, using your platform to advocate for change with decision-makers and industry leaders is essential. While inviting HCPs and KOLs to the mental health awareness conversation is the first step, involving them in the process of pushing for change is an ongoing process.  The key to a successful MSL is to stay educated about the current medical affairs landscape. Join our newsletter to get the latest news.

What now?

We can’t change the landscape of mental health alone. We must reach out to other healthcare providers, counselors, and mental health professionals to further the conversation and be a positive change for the future of mental health. As MSLs, we are in the perfect position to offer education and outreach resources for patients. Leveraging social media, increasing community outreach, and fostering communication are the fundamental aspects of raising mental health awareness.