Women taken for granted, Health Minister notes

The new Attorney General needed some time to process the Mental Health Bill, which had been stuck at this office, Health Minister Joe Cassar said.

The government had promised to pass the law by the end of last year but the draft legislation, which will overhaul the care of mental health patients has been awaiting the AG’s approval for about two years.

The implementation of the proposed law was a very complicated process and the new AG would need more time to tackle it, Dr Cassar said at the opening of a seminar by the National Council of Women titled Women and Mental Health.

Deputy Attorney General Peter Grech was appointed AG last month, succeeding Silvio Camilleri who is now Chief Justice.

When contacted, Richmond CEO Dolores Gauci was more hopeful about the implementation of the mental health law.

“I think the new AG will be slightly more ready to push for it,” Ms Gauci said, confirming that the proposed law was now awaiting clearance from the new AG.

Dr Cassar told the seminar how women in society were seen as carers, the ones who could cope. “But we always assume they will cope. In other words, they are taken for granted. Their presence, their strength and their care are all taken for granted,” he said.

Women, especially in Malta, he added, were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether their children were sick, their husbands were out of work or if their parents were old and frail and needed their help. They would cook and clean, go out to work and attend to the needs of those around them, Dr Cassar said, pointing out it took enormous courage for women to admit they could not cope and may need help.

“Frequently, women attempt to survive through tough times alone, sometimes falling into a deeper and darker depression as they feel more and more trapped by the life they are leading,” he said. The minister, a psychiatrist by profession, said this was frequently attributed to their biological make-up but women’s vulnerability due to their social role also plays a part.

“Girls, more than boys, are abused as children and women, more than men, are victims of domestic violence,” Dr Cassar pointed out, saying women were expected by society to cope and find a balance in life.

“If we as a society continue to reinforce the idea that women should only do things that are thought to benefit their family without taking care of themselves; if they feel they must sacrifice everything for their loved ones even at the cost of their health, their inner strength and their own self worth, they will live only in the shadow of others and their mental health will surely suffer,” Dr Cassar said.

The seminar, organised to mark World Mental Health Day on Sunday, was held at Europe House, in Valletta, and was well attended by women and a handful of men. The Prime Minister’s wife, Kate Gonzi, was also present.