NANAIMO, British Columbia — Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM), the Canadian government and the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) have teamed up to help seniors dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide.

With the financial support and collaboration of the government of Canada and SDM, CCSMH has developed new mental health resources appropriate for seniors and their caregivers, which are now available at local SDM ­pharmacies.

Because of this partnership, SDM pharmacists now have access to new continuing education tools on depression and suicide prevention for older adults, which means that seniors and their caregivers can turn to their local SDM pharmacist for help.
In addition, two new brochures were developed on depression and suicide prevention, to help seniors identify symptoms and connect them with treatment. This new information is available at SDM pharmacies across Canada and online.

“Depression isn’t easy for seniors to talk about, but your local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacist can help,” said Mike Motz, president of SDM. “Thanks to new education and information available in our stores, our pharmacists can help seniors to detect symptoms of mental illness and access treatment.”

Minister John Duncan, chief government whip and MP for Vancouver Island North, stressed the Canadian government’s commitment to the issue of seniors’ mental health and said he was pleased to be working with CCSMH and Shoppers Drug Mart.