Mental health services extended

The success of a pilot community mental health service in Qormi, enabling patients to receive treatment and continue living in the community has led to an extension in Cospicua being launched this morning by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Care of the Elderly.

Mr Galea told a news conference that this service was first set up at the Qormi health centre in 2004. Through it, patients who had been at Mount Carmel for 30 years were released and could live in the community. There are 80 professionals employed to provide this service.

It is complemented by two hostels - in Marsa and Floriana, where people who would have been living in hospital for a long time could relearn life skills and live a semi independent life.

Mr Galea also extended the Outreach programme set up in 1995. This is for patients who are discharged from Mount Carmel to be followed in the community by professionals.

Instead of returning to hospital there is a multi-disciplinary team following the patient and providing a number of services to help them integrate and live an acceptable life in the community.

There are also two hostels for people who have been in hospital for a long time so that they can relearn life skills living a semi-independent life.