Events
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 2023
To promote the European Mental Health Week between 22-28th May 2023, once again the Office of the Commissioner for for the Rights of persons with Mental Disorders joined the campaign initiated by Mental Health Europe an promoting this year’s theme Mentally Healthy Community. The promotion was mostly carried out through presence on local media. This was done through interviews held on different TV and radio stations and write-ups in local news papers. These included the following: Interview on programm Hekk Naħsibha jien, ‘Radju Malta, on 6th June 2023 with the participation of Gertrude Buttigieg, for the Office of the Commissioner, Naina Vella for Kellimni.com and Leona Ciantar from Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem. On Thursday 25 May as part of the events for the week #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek Christine Delicata interviewd Dr Lorraine Azzopardi on Radju Malta and Sonja Young interviewed Dr Marc Xuereb fuq Campus FM. On the programm Therapy Talk of the 22nd May on Campus FM first part of this programme is dedicated to #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek with the participation of Ms Gertrude Buttigieg from the Office of the Commissioner for Mental Health – Malta and Dr Elaine Cutajar from the Directorate of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Monday 22nd May 2023 at 11.00am follow the first interview on Brunch on NET FM. Marbeck Spiteri will be interviewing Mr Albert McCarthy
Dr Denis Vella Baldacchino, Commissioner and Prof Anton Grech were guests of Stephanie Spiteri on the programme ‘Illum ma’ Steph’ on Thursday 25th May 2023 on the same day the Programme Kuxxjenza, presented by Maria Muscat was also dedicated to Mental Health.
The Malta Independent was the exclusive print media and online portal partner for this year’s #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek campaign. Interview with Dr Denis Vella Baldacchino, Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Mental Disorders was published on 21/05/2023 Mental health well-being ‘eroded’ by too many buildings, cars, pollution – Commissioner and on 22/05/2023, interview with Ms Antoinette Vassallo, Commissioner for Children was published Children seek more time management skills in bid to deal better with mental health issues. The Independent dedicated an editorial too on 23/05/2023 TMID Editorial: Mental wellbeing.
REACTION BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISORDERS
13th July 2023: ‘Mental Health, wellbeing and pregnancy rates are intertwined’ Dr Denis Vella Baldacchino, Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Mental Disorders expressed this following a special parliamentary session which discussed ‘Malta’s Low Birth Rate ‑ An existential Challenge (Ir‑Rata Baxxa ta‑twelid f’Malta ‑ Sfida Eżistenzjali). This event was organised by The Malta Employers Association under the auspice of the Speaker of the House of Parliament, Dr Anglu Farrugia.
In his reaction to this event, Dr Vella Baldacchino highlighted the important aspect linking both directly and indirectly low‑birth rate and Mental Health Well Being – this appears not to be truly appreciated. Malta’s economic development has come at a cost. The environmental deterioration including excessive building, high density building, lack of open spaces and green areas, excessive traffic, noise pollution, as well as changes in the work and family environments are having a negative impact on the Mental Health and Well Being. These in turn have a negative effect on the birth rate with possible postponement of pregnancy amongst others due to career, job pressures and other factors leading to additional stressors.
The impact of a child on the family has financial and practical implications including burdens on who will care for the baby. Treatments for cases in infertility may also lead to mental health problems, as can the whole process related to In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Not all attempts at IVF have a favourable positive pregnancy outcome. These continue to aggravate the Mental Health of the couple.
Dr Vella Baldacchino recommended that a ‘whole of government approach’ is applied in all policies and actions. He appealed to Government and Employers to consider different initiatives including:
– Supporting grandparents who may be actively involved in bringing up young children. Worse still, grandparents may today be still part of the active workforce,
– Taking care of the physical and mental wellbeing of foreign workers who may be the most vulnerable and may be exploited in all aspects
– Informal carers who are looking after relatives with mental health problems, chronic disease or physical disabilities These carers may need periods of respite and support to remain economically active and may postpone a pregnancy in order to avoid complicating their situation.
The Commissioner concluded his feedback by supporting Work Life Balance initiatives across the whole Maltese economic sectors to tackle the issue discussed of Malta’s Low birth rate – An Existential Challenge.
EU-Compass for Mental Health and Wellbeing Malta Workshop
On the 16th March 2018, the Office of the Commissioner for Mental Health hosted in Malta the last workshop of the EU-Compass for Mental Health and Wellbeing Project.
This was held at Hilltop Gardens, Naxxar.
Workshop Moderator:
Dr John M Cachia, Commissioner for Mental Health
Workshop Facilitators:
Dr Diana Frasquilho, Psychologist and Research Fellow
Dr Manuela Silva, Psychiatrist and Researcher
Both from Faculty of Medical Sciences, NOVA University, Portugal o.b.o. EU Compass for Mental Health and Well-being Consortium.
EU-Compass for Mental Health and Wellbeing Malta Workshop
The EU-Compass for Action on Mental Health and Wellbeing is a web-based mechanism used to collect, exchange and analyse information on policy and stakeholder activities in mental health. Between 2015-2018 the Compass will communicate information on the European Framework for Action on Mental Health and Well-being. It will monitor the mental health and wellbeing policies and activities of EU countries and non-governmental stakeholders through:
- The identification and dissemination of European good practices in mental health
- The collection of data on stakeholders’ and national activities in mental health through three annual surveys
- The organisation of three annual reports and forum events
- Holding mental health workshops in each EU country and in Iceland and Norway
In addition, the EU Compass will collaborate with the EU-Group of Governmental Experts on Mental Health and Wellbeing and non-governmental stakeholders in the preparation of four scientific papers
During the Malta Workshop various topics were dicussed. Each session included and overview of findings by the EU-Compass project and discussion looked at Best practices and current challenges in Malta. Below find presentation shared and discussed during workshop:
EU Compass for Action on Mental Health and Wellbeing – Objectives
Session 1 – Preventing depression & suicide and promoting resilience
Session 2 – Mental health at work
Session 3 – Mental health in schools
Session 5 – Developing integrated governance approaches
Photos of the Malta Workshop
More information including Annual Reports and Good Practices identified by the EU-Compass for Action on Mental Health and Wellbeing Consortium visit EU-Compass
Mental Health and Well-Being EXPO
On the Occassion of World Mental Health Day the Office of the Commissioner for Mental Health organised a Mental Health and Well-Being Expo in collaboration with 25 other entities. This was held on 10th October 2015 at The Point, Sliema.
The EXPO was visited by various distinguished guests including Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, the Honorable Chris Fearne, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Honorable Dr Simon Busuttil, Leader of the Opposition.
During the EXPO the President of Malta launched the Mental Health NGO’s Platform.
Press Release, Mental Health NGOs Launch
The EXPO offered the opportunity to all those involved in the sector to promote their actitivites and inform the general public of where and how help can be accessed should the need arise.
For various passers-by it served as an opportunity to stop and reflect on their mental health situation and also to take all the necessary information and ask any questions.
The Community Theatre within the Drama Centre Malta, presented an interactive drama ‘Il-Vuċi’, under their director Manuel Cassar. Various mental health situations were presented and the public was asked to voice their opinion and stop and reflect accordingly.
A summary of Mental Health and Well-Being EXPO is brought about in Dignity in Mental Health
Past Events
Improving Medication Use in Older Persons