Minister Jo Etienne Abela, together with the Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli, announced a number of initiatives in the community linked to the continuous work that the Government is doing in favor of mental health.
During the news conference, it was explained that through this measure, with an investment of €4.5 million, around 90,000 people in the community are expected to benefit. This is through initiatives that will increase awareness and accessibility to care while reducing the stigma associated with mental health.
For this purpose, the following initiatives are being proposed:
- Mental Health First Aid Course in groups – training sessions will be held for the participants to identify people who have mental health challenges, as well as prepare individuals to recognize when possibly they too are going through some mental health challenges.
- In collaboration with the local councils around Malta and Gozo, 1 on 1 sessions will be held in the community with trained professionals.
- A Call Out service where professionals in collaboration with local councils are calling a number of people to evaluate and see if individuals need some kind of help to protect their mental health.
The Minister for Health and Active Aging Jo Etienne Abela said that although the national line for mental health 1579 already exists, which since its inception has received around 17,000 calls, through these initiatives that are being proposed they will continue to deliver this service closer to the people in the heart of the community.
“For this government, accessibility to health services remains a priority. Therefore we will continue to see that we continue to work and introduce as many services as possible which not only benefit the patients, but also offer a service through which our country can take a step forward in the quality of life of the Maltese and – Gozdyn,” concluded Minister Abela.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli said that this is a project from which every layer of Maltese and Gozitan citizens will benefit.
“Through this project, the Government will be offering free psychological help to anyone who seeks it. But not only that, this help will be given in the resident’s nearest local council, as well as online or by telephone, according to the comfort and preference of the residents. Through these initiatives, the Government will continue to raise the quality of life of the citizen,” said the parliamentary secretary.
Photo (MHA-MHAL_PS)
