Call for free medicine to mental health patients

Mental health problems are on the increase, yet, it is only people who suffer from schizophrenia who are entitled to receive free medication from the government.

International studies show that about one in every 100 people suffer from schizophrenia, a disabling mental illness, yet research indicates that 6.6 per cent of Maltese suffer from chronic depression and the figure is expected to rise.

Sufferers of chronic depression have to buy their own medicines because, as things stand, free medicine is available to people with chronic conditions and schizophrenia is the only listed chronic mental health illness.

“This contributes to poverty in people with mental health problems. They have to buy the medicines they cannot live without. Paying for these medicines is harder for them since, because of their condition, they find it difficult to work or keep a well-paid job,” said Dolores Gauci, CEO of Richmond Foundation, an NGO that provides community mental health services.

Ms Gauci is insisting the time has come for the situation to change, which is why the foundation is raising a petition calling for people with mental health problems to be entitled to medicines given by the state.

“It’s time for the Maltese to prove they are aware of these issues and show they want something done. It’s not just the Richmond Foundation that is interested in mental health,” she said, adding the petition would be presented to the authorities next month.

The petition points out that 25 per cent of the European population, including Malta, are at risk of experiencing mental health problems at any point in their life. For this reason, Malta should have a national strategy on mental health, Ms Gauci said, stressing the importance of enacting the Mental Health Act that has been in the pipeline for over eight years.

The government had promised to implement the law by the end of 2009 but the Bill, which will overhaul the care and well-being of mental health patients, is still awaiting approval by the Attorney General.

In July, Community Care Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea said there were problems regarding guardianship clauses.

The Richmond Foundation petition also calls for support for mental health patients in finding employment.

“Professional support is needed to help individuals with mental health problems succeeding in the labour market. Employment is an important feature for the people in question and appropriate and timely support is essential,” the petition reads.

Parents of mental health patients have complained about the gap in employment support for people like their children.

Although Richmond offers supported housing and helps clients live independently, there is no system that helps people with mental health problems find jobs and keep them.

The petition can be signed online at www.richmond.org.mt/petition. A hard copy can also be signed at the foundation’s offices in Sta Venera.