CPNP Student Chapters in Action: Improving Neuropsychiatric Health Through Education and Service

Heidi J. Wehring, PharmD, BCPP
Chair, CPNP Student Committee 2016-2017
Assistant Professor
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine

During 2015-2016, the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists Student Chapter roster expanded to 25 active chapters, encompassing a total of 553 members. Each of these chapters is supported by dedicated faculty advisors who are also active CPNP National members.

Despite inclement weather making travel challenging, chapters were well represented at the 2016 Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO, with sixty-one chapter members attending. Twelve posters resulted from student chapter member collaborations. During the Annual Meeting, student chapter members were invited to meet each other and Student Committee leadership to exchange ideas about chapter activities, fundraising, and to foster collaboration between different student groups.

Throughout the past year, student chapters have offered their members fantastic opportunities to learn more about mental illness, treatment options, and career opportunities by hosting guest speakers, organizing pharmacist roundtables, participating in shadowing with neuropsychiatric pharmacists, and planning trivia nights and review sessions. The most impressive aspect of student chapter activities continues to be the overwhelming dedication to service to both their campuses and their communities. In the upcoming year, CPNP will be showcasing various student chapter activities as a recurring article in the Perspectives Newsletter.

A summary of some of the outstanding work accomplished by CPNP student pharmacists is included below.

• Student chapters represented CPNP in a variety of ways through their contributions to Community Health Fairs and educational outreach events. Chapters participated in 12 different Community and/or Campus Health Fairs, as well as traveled to provide outreach to the public on topics such as depression screening and education, Medicare Part D, medication education, nutrition and exercise, smoking cessation, sleep, schizophrenia, migraine, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Student chapters also included youth in their outreach efforts. Four different chapters hosted or traveled to high schools to present information on mental health awareness, pharmacists’ roles in mental health, and other similar topics. Three other chapters’ activities were focused towards middle and elementary school youth. 
• CPNP Student Chapters collectively raised donations for and participated in 23 different walks supporting a wide variety of foundations dedicated to those suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders and their families, including NAMI, suicide awareness, and specific disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, depression and epilepsy. In addition, chapters directly volunteered at numerous shelters, residential care facilities, free mental health clinics, and inpatient units.   
• On campus, CPNP Student Chapters offered unique support and educational experiences to not only their own members, but also the entire student body. Chapters manned informational booths for Eating Disorders Awareness, Suicide Prevention Awareness, Alcohol Awareness, mental health screenings, mental illness stigma, and ADHD. Multiple chapters helped coordinate and offered support for various activities surrounding Mental Health Awareness Week.
• CPNP chapters sponsored guest speakers, two chapters offered naloxone certification/ opioid overdose response training, and two chapters sponsored QPR suicide prevention courses. Mental health first aid courses were offered twice by one chapter. Multiple chapters also participated with other pharmacy organizations on campus to arrange guest speakers, roundtables, and outreach events.  

The student members of CPNP Chapters have worked diligently to introduce their fellow students to neuropsychiatric pharmacy, provide valuable educational programming to their own membership, their fellow students, and the greater communities in which they live and learn. These motivated student pharmacists contribute to numerous organizations and foundations and benefit those who strive towards neuropsychiatric health. The CPNP Community would like to recognize these exceptional accomplishments and look forward to hearing about Chapter activities throughout this year.