Mental Health America, Walgreens Team Up on Mental Health Screenings and Campaign

May 10, 2016
Contact: Erin Wallace, (571-319-9594, ewallace@mentalhealthamerica.net)

Alexandria, VA—Mental Health America (MHA) is pleased to announce a new national collaboration with Walgreens, one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, to help connect more people with critical mental health screening tools and information. 

Working with MHA, Walgreens today launched a new, dedicated mental health “answer center” on its website (www.walgreens.com/mentalhealth) to help connect people to MHA’s Online Screening Program— free, scientifically-based online screenings for a number of conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD and others. 

The new platform aims to improve health outcomes through early screening and intervention, to heighten consumer awareness and reduce stigma associated with mental illness, and to connect more people with clinical resources in their community who can help. With timely intervention so critical to early stage treatment, Walgreens and MHA together have set a goal to complete 3 million online screenings by the end of 2017. MHA believes that taking a screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. These screenings are part of an ongoing effort by MHA to address mental illness Before Stage 4.

“Mental Health America is very pleased to partner with Walgreens this way,” said Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO, MHA.  “Walgreens is a trusted part of the fabric of so many local communities in which we and our affiliates work.  Our online mental health screening program has rapidly become an amazing year-round way to reach people who have mental health concerns with helpful information and supports. Adding the Walgreens suite of supports and services to our program will strengthen our offerings, and help many more people recover from serious mental health conditions.”

Walgreens provides a broad range of services to improve medication adherence for patients, including those with certain mental health conditions. As part of the effort, the company will also be providing opportunities for continuing education for its pharmacists and nurse practitioners, to better serve the needs of mental health patients. Its new mental health answer center features informational resources and content, and can connect users to MHA’s Online Screening Program. MHA can also facilitate follow-up treatment and care through providers and specialists in local communities, as well as through its affiliates across the United States.  

“We’re proud to work with MHA on this important initiative to help meet the need for mental health resources in our communities, and to better support our customers and patients in attaining both good physical and mental health,” said Alex Gourlay, Walgreens president. 

The initiative launches in conjunction with May is Mental Health Month. For over 65 years, MHA and our affiliates across the country have led the observance of May is Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings.