Supportline 179, Malta’s national 24-hour helpline, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. A service run by the Appoġġ Agency within the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), it offers confidential emotional support, information and referral services to people experiencing emotional challenges or distress.
In fact, on Thursday morning, a conference was held to not only commemorate this anniversary, but also to look at the achievements and progress made over the past few years.
The Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, Michael Falzon, explained that through this helpline, several cases have been received, including those related to domestic violence, child abuse, mental health challenges, loneliness, substance abuse, among others. He added that this service has led to the saving of many lives thanks to prompt professional assistance.
Chief Executive Alfred Grixti said that this service will continue to be people-driven and anyone who calls or starts a chat with the service will find a person who will listen and help them on the other end. “We are committed to continuing to invest in human resources and to providing ongoing training to ensure that we continue to provide a quality service,” said the FSWS Chief Executive.
To complement the current service, it was announced that a live chat service has been introduced to provide confidential written support for people who find it easier to write than to speak.
Photos: MSPC/DOI
