Government gives no timelines for mental health law

The government yesterday again pledged it would place the reform of the outdated Mental Health Act high on the national agenda but stopped short of giving specific timelines.

Over the past six months the resources required for the Act's implementation had been examined, Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea told the media before addressing a seminar organised by the Richmond Foundation to mark Mental Health Day yesterday.

Dolores Gauci, the CEO of the foundation - a non-governmental organisation that provides community mental health services, has long been insisting on the reform of the current law that dates back to 1976.

In an interview with The Times last Thursday, Ms Gauci had complained that various people had been working on the Mental Health Act for about six years but for the past year the draft law had been stuck at the Attorney General's office.

Ms Gauci could not understand why the government was not giving priority to this law, when mental health was something that affected the lives of so many people.

A third of the world's population suffers from mental health problems, which translates into about 130,000 Maltese people, Dr Galea explained during the seminar, entitled Active Inclusion Through Service User Involvement.

Figures also show that just 26 per cent of people with mental health problems seek help, which highlights the stigma that plagues sufferers.

Apart from combating this stigma, the seminar also aimed to push the message that people with mental health problems have a lot to contribute to society, but could achieve this if the stigma was fought and replaced with an inclusive mentality.

The harsh reality people with mental health problems faced was recently exposed in a sickening video clip showing a person with physical and mental disabilities being taunted and harassed. This clip was removed from the video-sharing website YouTube.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola condemned the actions shown in the video and supported the National Commission Persons with Disability's call for police to investigate the "Maltese bullies".

Prof. Cassola added that the promotion of mental health was important in promoting a better quality of life for everyone.

"It is time to reflect and look towards the future, and to make mental health a priority, by looking at what needs to be changed and what needs to be done to improve mental health services and awareness on the issue," he said.

The Labour Party's spokesman for equality, Justyne Caruana also deplored the bullying and in a statement called on the police to take all the measures necessary to ensure this despicable act was not repeated.