Mental health problems

I refer to the letter Midsummer Madness by Revel Barker (August 3).

According to Mr Barker, Gozo's situation is chaotic and unwelcoming at the present. Mr Barker describes this situation as madness.

The term madness is not only obsolete (mental health problems and mental illness are better alternative terms) but it is also misused. What I think Mr Barker wanted to mean was that right now in Gozo the situation is off-putting, disorganised and unruly.

Associating the term madness with such a situation is bound to increase the already existing stigma that surrounds mental health problems, which is so detrimental to persons suffering from such problems and to their families. The fact that statistics for Malta regarding mental health problems are impossible to come by just confirms the secrecy in which such problems are shrouded. This is especially so when one considers that it is estimated that in the western world 25 per cent of the population will at some stage in their life experience mental health problems.

For the past year, the self-help support group for persons suffering mental health problems, of which I am the facilitator and which is supported by The Richmond Foundation, worked hard to push forward issues related to mental health, to ease the stigma among the public and to educate the members about their rights and other important matters.

My opinion is that situations like the letter mentioned neutralise our efforts.