Anxiety and stress linked to hunting ban
FKNK issue a booklet for tourists
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
Hunters suffered from higher levels of depression and anxiety in the wake of a spring hunting ban imposed in 2009, according to a study published yesterday.
From a randomly selected sample of 780 hunters and trappers, 61 per cent reported seeking professional help for a mental health problem.
The independent study conducted by the Malta Association of Psychiatric Nurses was commissioned by the hunting federation, FKNK, and covered the three months starting from June 2009.
At the time senior officials of the federation had claimed that a ban on spring hunting and the abolition of trapping had pushed some of their members to commit suicide.
Psychiatric nurse Martin Ward explaining the findings of a study among hunters that found a link between mental health problems and a spring hunting ban in 2009. Photo: Darrin Zammit LupiHowever, Martin Ward, a psychiatric nurse and one of the study’s authors, yesterday cautioned against drawing a direct link between the suicides and the legislative changes affecting hunters in 2009.
“There were three reported suicides at the time that seem to have been linked to the hunting issue and that is what pushed the hunting federation to commission this study. But the study does not establish that link, because dead people cannot be interviewed.”
Mr Ward admitted that personal issues could have contributed to the increase in mental health problems but insisted the link to hunting was a constant variable for all those interviewed and this could not be discarded.
The reported incidence of mental health problems in the hunting community was far above the national average, he added.
“The problem was significantly higher among those who were introduced to hunting at a very early age and those who dedicated a lot of time to the activity,” Mr Ward said.
The study showed that considerably more medication was prescribed to those who had been practising hunting for a longer period.
Giving an overview of the findings during a press conference organised by FKNK, Mr Ward said hunters had to consider whether it was appropriate to expose their children to hunting, given the potential consequences during adulthood if the activity was denied them.
He also urged policymakers to be aware of the potential impact of policy change on the mental health of interested groups, especially minorities.
At the press conference, the hunting federation also launched a booklet on hunting, which they said was intended to provide factual information.
The booklet by federation officials Lino Farrugia and Alfred Zammit is specifically written in English to reach out to tourists, which they said were often misinformed about the hunting situation in Malta.
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133 Comments
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Morana Axisa
Jun 1st 2012, 11:31
Did anyone think that perhaps the hunters could have been suffering from stress and mental unbalance even BEFORE the ban was announced? Perhaps it is this mental unbalance which causes people to want to kill other living creatures for amusement and not the other way round!
Alex Ellul
Jun 1st 2012, 11:12
Last year, the Spanish region of Catalonia banned bull fighting. There were no reported cases of people needing psychiatric help, at least not from Spanish nursing psychiatyrsts.
This year, Spain went financially belly up, with an unemployment figure of 24% overall, and 40% among the younger genration. Many people need help, both finacially and psycologically. Oh, I have mispelt a few words. I bet Steve Demicoli will denounce me for this, as he has already tried to do with GG.
Hugh Jampton
May 31st 2012, 11:10
Its rather curious that FKN are publishing a leaflet of their activities (diguised admittedly) in English to hand out to Tourists.
When the BBC has just shown programmes like 'Springwatch' and 'planet Earth live' to huge audiences and they are being encouraged to help wildlife in their Gardens, I suspect the FKN members will suffer more stress when being told where to stick their leaflet!
And to anyone visiting Malta who is unaware what goes on regading the birdlife, this leaflet will certainly bring it to their attention.
Its interesting to note from this surveyby a 'nurse' there was no control group used? perhaps I can just mention that when the spring hunting season was banned in Cyprus no one appeard to suffer depressive moods attributed to it.
G G Debono
May 31st 2012, 10:20
To,……………………………….Steve Demicoli ………………Today, 10:01
@ Mr Victor Borg
1 ) RE “How much experience in psychiatric or nursing research to make such senseless comments? “
This objection is invalid - - - - Mr Borg speculated whether this psychiatrist nurse was also a hunter - ---
2) RE “ In case you hail from some far flung corner of the uncivilised world” etc and “..who has been involved in more research projects on mental health than the number of brain cells you appear to have when you make such comments…………”
When people make insulting comments about the number of brain cells of their critics then for sure they are at a loss for arguments and should shut up.
This sloppy nonsense about “Anxiety and stress” linked to the hunting ban amounts to nothing less than a welcome shot-in-the foot for hunters. Keep it up !
Steve Demicoli
May 31st 2012, 15:38
Dear Mr. Debono,
Maybe you should refrain from commenting until you enrol on a course where someone would teach you how to use appropriate and correct terminology - but until such time kindly use 'psychiatric' nurse not 'psychiatrist' nurse. Then maybe you could proceed to argue about argument validity and lack thereof etc etc . . .
The comment was not meant to be any more insulting than Mr. Borg's insults to our profession!
Steve Demicoli
B.Sc Psychiatric Nursing (Melit)
G G Debono
May 31st 2012, 20:20
OOOH Mr Demicoli
RE "..you enrol on a course where someone would teach you how to use appropriate and correct terminology..."
Mamma mia !
Another pathetic insulting comment - ! I have better things to do than spend hours checking my terminology or spelling in blogs - at least you got the drift of what I wanted to say - or ?
Xi hmerijiet !
Emanuel Curmi
May 31st 2012, 09:38
The results of this study shouldn't come as a surprise and it clearly shows that when all is chewed and spit, it was never a case of law abiding hunters and illegal hunting or even the quotas of turtle doves and quails. In fact, it proves how deeply ingrained the hunting craze is in Malta when hunters show clear symptoms of depression when deprived of this activity. It also shows that this addiction to killing means that illegal hunting, within or out of the hunting season, will flourish and continue to be a blemish on these islands for many years to come. And yet we have the FKNK making a case for these ‘troubled souls’ and instead of taking an pro-active role to help their condition, they are using them as a showcase to continue practicing a selfish sport at the expense of the country. An alcoholic is not cured by indulging him with alcohol and the same applies to a depressive hunter where a carte blanche in hunting will simply prolong the agonies that are yet to be faced. A moratorium on new hunting licenses was proposed & shot down and as long as the FKNK and KSU will continue of their present agenda, the clashes between the hunting fraternity and the ‘antis’ will continue to rage for a long to come...and the government, will just stand by and continue to ‘poach’ votes.
Mr Victor Borg
May 31st 2012, 02:10
What is a psychiatric nurse? Is it a psychiatrist or a nurse? Or is it a hunter who doubles up as a nurse?
Specifically, Martin Ward: who are you and what's your agenda to participate is such a suspect study with such dubious and easily-refutable results?
Are you trying to defend hunters, or disparage the psychiatrist profession, or both?
Steve Demicoli
May 31st 2012, 10:01
@ Mr Victor Borg
How much experience in psychiatric or nursing research have you got in order to make such senseless comments?
In case you hail from some far flung corner of the uncivilised world, not to knowing (or at least be able to take a guess) what a psychiatric nurse is - If you have ever heard of Google or Wikipedia in your neck of the woods (excuse the pun), a simple Google search would have yielded the Wikipedia definition of a 'psychiatric nurse' is:
"a specialty of nursing that researches and cares for people of all ages with mental illness or mental distress, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression or dementia. Nurses in this area receive more training in psychological therapies, building a therapeutic alliance, dealing with challenging behavior, and the administration of psychiatric medication"
'Specifically, Martin Ward' - is a published psychiatric nursing author, independent psychiatric nursing consultant and the head of European Expert Panel within the European Federation of Psychiatric Nurses,
who has been involved in more research projects on mental health than the number of brain cells you appear to have when you make such comments
N Zammit
May 30th 2012, 22:05
After being shot, 100% of birds feel extreme pain, anxiety, panic, stress and probable death. And the hunters are complaining.
LOUIS JOSEPH BORG
May 30th 2012, 20:49
even drug trafficars get depressed when sent to prison ,rapists to murderers to, child molesters to and thievies to so allow everyone to do what he wants! by the way i get depressed when i see defencless birds being murdererd by heartless cowards!
colin wilcox
May 30th 2012, 20:03
who is in charge of giving the gun licences they should get the results of these
mental cases and remove there guns
Francis Sammut
May 30th 2012, 19:32
Mr. C. Borg and Mr. A. Formosa, there's no need to get all hot up for using the word 'quitting'. If Mr. Borg goes back and read his own piece earlier on this morning this is what he said, and I quote: .....'no one is like any other and ''quitting'' a hobby that grew up with you for most of your life is not easy at all!'' - end of quote. And as you said Mr. Borg, it's not that simple. But again, by not trying to tackle the problem, because a problem it is. Getting depressed and stressed and harbouring suicidal intimations is not going to solve anything, but may create more grave problems to the families involved.
David Mifsud
May 30th 2012, 18:44
I witnessed a flock of short toed eagles being decimated up on the Vitctoria Lines a few years back.I was depressed and dejected and probably should have sought some help. It works both ways!
C. A. Borg
May 30th 2012, 18:23
I have full respect and admiration for MW. However, I feel obliged to ask these questions:
What was the significance and the effect of your result, I am sure the simple but imp fact that this was not a random sample but participants were the actual pool of hunters was taken into consideration?
What was the mental state of these hunters before the actual study?
What makes you think this was the one and only variable that changed?
Could you clearly declare the power analysis that was conducted?
I believe that given the economical crisis and all the other current problems there are more than 61% that have increased anxiety in the general population.
What is the impact of this research? To give guns to people that appearently more than half of them have mental problems and it seems that you also imply they perhaps have high/er suicide rates?
How can any person make a direct link or even consider a direct link between the ban and suicide when there are so many other mediating factors.
Given that this research is making such a hit in the media – it should be submitted to a peer reviewed journal to have a proper validation of the research methods used.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 18:23
And the funny thing is, that people want to get rid of a few ducks in il-Maghluq.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120529/local/Save-our-marshland-.421773
BUT ONLY FEW TALK ABOUT THE RUBBISH.
This is tourist area and you all should be ashamed of yourselves.
Richard Caruana
May 30th 2012, 17:36
So when hunting was on they went on 'sick leave' so that they could go to hunt.
Now they go on real sick leave because they can't hunt!
Proves hunting is not good for one's health.
E. Azzopardi
May 30th 2012, 17:29
People with depression should not possess any firearms. This is very worrying indeed. But as I always said, hunters have their priorities all wrong. They should worry about their jobs, the country's economy, their children's education etc etc. X'kull wahda f'din Malta taghna!!!
Steve Zammit
May 30th 2012, 17:08
Mr. Ward you forgot to mention that these hunters that 'suffered from higher levels of depression and anxiety' are responsible for the killing of thousands of birds from our countryside every year
I suffer a high level of depression and anxiety when I cant enjoy birds in peace in our countryside, when I am verbally abused of, when all I see is men run with guns desperate to shoot and kill, when I see protected birds being killed, when I see hunters abusing of hunting laws, when I find injured birds with gun shot wounds, when the spring silence is disturbed by the shots from the so -called conservationists....u halluna tridu
Ah! now they are trying to reach out to tourists....we have now replaced the word 'hunting' with 'game shooting' and the word 'trapping' with 'bird-capturing'....it makes it sound so peaceful and comforting...stop playing around with words, you can fool the man in the street, but you want fool us
Imbaghad tidhol f xi kazin jew tismahom jitkelmu fil-pjazza....jiftahru bi kliem 'qtiltu' ( i killed it) , 'waqqajtu qisu gebla' ( i dropped it like a stone), 'dahhantu' (i smoked it) , 'hraqtu' (i burnt it) ,, 'nixxftu ' (i dried it) , 'kissirtu ( i broke it) 'tertaqtu ( i riddled it with shots) 'nifqghu bit-tir' (i will smash it) or 'kahhaltu ( i plastered it) imbaghad tigu hawn u tippruvaw taghmluwha tal-imsieken
CRY ME A RIVER
colin wilcox
May 30th 2012, 16:31
if this report is right there are 61% of hunters who should have there guns removed
if they have to have help for mental health problems they should not have access
to guns
Joe Grech
May 30th 2012, 17:24
Agree with you. Safety first.
Hopefully the hunters' representatives will put Citizen Safety first and foremost. It's not nice to have stressed hunters in the countryside!
The ''authorities'' also have a duty to follow up this issue.....
Peter Shaw
May 30th 2012, 16:23
Poor hunters!!
G Caruana
May 30th 2012, 16:14
So when they mention sick leave they're not kidding. Always wondered why they all seem to fall ill every April
Joe Grech
May 30th 2012, 16:09
Nobody has the right to kill for pleasure.
Birds should be admired and not shot at.
It is true that hunters may be affected when they have to stop killing and catching birds. But that surely can be remedied through tranquillizers.
Karl Consiglio
May 30th 2012, 15:46
poor birds
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 30th 2012, 17:10
Karl Consiglio
Yesterday, 19:13 COMMENT TO THE TIMES IN RELATION TO ABORTION:
63 women who couldn't do it here, so they went there. What about it? Anzi 63 is not a lot.
YES POOR BIRDS!!!
Karl Consiglio
May 30th 2012, 20:20
Then stop shooting at them!!
M Cassar
May 30th 2012, 15:33
From the above one does not get whether there was a control group of non-hunters. I wonder if non-hunters will have to resort to medication if free hunting is allowed and people have to accept that they live in an island where wildlike is non-existant because it is shot down? Come on....a survey sponsored by the interested party with questions to members who wanted to hide under the 'if I am not allowed to kill I become depressed' excuse!
Did the results make any suggestions regarding the appropriatness of firearm licences in the hands of mentally depressed persons with a penchant for hunting?
Manuel Mangani
May 30th 2012, 15:33
Did the study examine the mental health status of Maltese hunters prior to the enactment of regulations?
Rita Lemesre
May 30th 2012, 15:26
remember or i will remind you :sunday morning in valletta market
wild free birds kept in extreme small cages
to be sold and kept theer for a life time
to attract other birds
is this a punishment : what have these poor little birds done
to get this cruelty
they r born to fly
ther is nothing to eat in them
peopl needing to do this... of course need psychiatric help in the first place they get out there frustration on the innosant bird.... and also for money
it should not be allowed
also should be punished if caught .at least they will know what to be in a cage is like cage for a reason
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 30th 2012, 17:18
Poor budgies, canaries, parrots, goldfish, chickens, turkeys, cows, pigs. All kept in for the enjoyment of so many. No less the birds sold at the market, that incidentally can no longer be sold due to legislation enacted years ago.
Eh Rita, when's the next lampuki pie or braised rabbit due? What have these poor creatures done to deserve being cooked. What has a lobster done to be cooked alive?
Don't let your emotions run wild since no one, not even a vegetarian, is free of any guilt.
Take care and think about this twice before replying.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 15:20
Dear Dr Martin Ward, If you read the comments from the antis you will realize that they need urgent psychiatric attention. These people have no respect for humans, so you can imagine how much they have for birds. After 30 years of exploiting our countryside and investing in concrete blocks as summer residences, they pretend that what the hunters and trappers invested in and preserved belongs to them. Their agenda is to get rid of the hunters and trappers to enjoy the countryside on our costs.
Joseph Calleja
May 30th 2012, 15:50
" Their agenda is to get rid of the hunters and trappers to enjoy the countryside on our costs." What a pity? Remember that Dr Ward was paid for by the FKNK to run these tests. Does that tell you anything? You are right about the developers and land grabbing entrepreneurs, they rape our virgin land..
Gillian Snook
May 30th 2012, 16:58
.... so you believe that anyone sympathetic to freedom of birds have no respect for humans and own summer residences. Interesting. If you have proof please feel free to write further.
Joseph Calleja
May 30th 2012, 15:20
" Mr Ward said hunters had to consider whether it was appropriate to expose their children to hunting". That is like asking whether smokers had to consider whether it was appropriate to expose their children to smoking" The FKNK has to find a better way to defend their plea for shooting innocent birds. What a bunch of banana peels. What drives you to drink or suicide is not being able to keep up with the cost of living and not being able to feed your family. But going bananas because you are not allowed to shoot down innocent birds? Give us a break FKNK. As you can see, everybody is feeling sorry for those deprived hunters. How pathetic is that?
anthony sultana
May 30th 2012, 15:16
A tiny island like Malta without birds flying around specialy sea birds makes people boring, but mostly the birds killers are boring the most.So they must learn not to kill birds, to have birds flying around.
Peter Bowring
May 30th 2012, 14:59
Poor babies get them a rattle and a dummy. I get stressed at 5.30 in the morning when I get woken-up by the noise of gunshots. These people should stop being so selfish and try to consider other people and stop breaking E U law. Maybe if we had a Primeminster with some guts and who respected the opinion of the majority we could improve the ridiculous that has been created on this island.
Isola Danti
May 30th 2012, 14:55
Yeah and I get serious anxiety and stress from listening to the gun shots breaking the tranquil morning, thinking of the poor birds dropping from the blue sky!
Now if they are serious they can always go to a shooting range to shoot at clay pigeons as a therapy, it should help unless one is suffering from blood-thirsty psychotic disorder.
B. Jones
May 30th 2012, 15:15
LOL - I couldn't agree more!
Steven Cutajar
May 30th 2012, 14:46
This article makes me laugh more than anything else... yeah anxiety. I have a treatment for it - Birds relaxing sounds.
Dr. Ward.. if 61% of 780 hunters (which adds up to an odd 475.8 hunters) are suffering from Anxiety due to lack of "hobbying", it would be nice to make a counter-study to all the rest of the Maltese population just to check what is the figure of people who are fed up of waking up with the sounds of shotguns, walking in the little available countryside in fear of being shot or insulted at and most of all, of having to accept all the c**p which is coming out of these studies!! Live and let live.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 14:43
How nice it is to see children exposed to hunting, who will have a much greater respect to our environment.
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/galleries/selected/code/GALLERIES/id/10255/page/2/title/shooting-pictures
Hugh Jampton
May 30th 2012, 18:54
Anthony Formosa: Re your link just goes to show that there are hunting morons/parents all around the world..
don't think that was what you were trying to say though is it?? You think perhaps these people are applauded and liked in UK? sorry no they are not! they are vilified by the majority of the population just like you are in Malta....
Anthony Formosa
May 31st 2012, 15:14
Mr Hugh Jampton
Perhaps you prefer them to be exposed to this.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120531/local/drugs.422180
Sergio Azzopardi
May 30th 2012, 14:32
Hence the fact that people suffering from stress and anxiety should'nt be allowed carrying a gun
Karl Consiglio
May 30th 2012, 14:20
Not being allowed to kill birds is so stressful, what a joke. And how embarrassing!
F. Azzopardi
May 30th 2012, 14:08
Stress and anxiety can be cured....but nothing can be done to the dead birds!
Peter Murray
May 30th 2012, 14:04
There was a survey undertaken with the birds flying over Malta for the period concerned and the findings were a marked increase in happiness and lack of anxiety levels amongst them with depression symptoms also massively reduced
susan santi schembri
May 30th 2012, 14:02
I suggest using cameras to shoot the birds ,photography is known to be extrememly theraputic and everyone will stay alive and have beautiful momentos of some of the most amazing wildlife in the Med .
Thomas Borg
May 30th 2012, 13:56
Haha the birds must be rejoicing! not only that they're not being hunted, that the so called 'psychological warfare' is on the other foot!
J Micallef
May 30th 2012, 13:55
What about the stress endured by non-hunters woken up at 4.00am with gunshot noise?
Neil Collins
May 30th 2012, 13:53
61% of people who go out in public with guns seeking help for mental problems. Hmmmmmmm
John Wilman
May 30th 2012, 13:51
If the poor birds could talk, they would tell you what stress and anxiety is after being shot at with a 12 bore, this article can`t be serious
Joseph Camilleri
May 30th 2012, 13:46
At least the hunters had recourse to professional psychiatric help! The dead birds did not! This is really a bit too much.
O Galea
May 30th 2012, 13:31
.... and I'm stressed and suffer from anxiety because of the constant building and dust in sliema over the past 20 years... We cannot even open any windows in summer.
Tough cheese.
I hardly think the govt is going to halt development even if it is to the detriment of the thousands of residents in the area.
I suggest they take up another hobby... like bird watching (as opposed to killing)
John Wilman
May 30th 2012, 13:55
Now that`s what you call stress
JOE INGUANEZ
May 30th 2012, 13:18
"However, Martin Ward, a psychiatric nurse and one of the study’s authors, yesterday cautioned against drawing a direct link between the suicides and the legislative changes affecting hunters in 2009." THESE ARE MR WORDS REPORTED ABOVE..... can we have a full copy of this study?
JOE INGUANEZ
John zammit
May 30th 2012, 13:17
So this study suggests that “61 per cent reported seeking professional help for a mental health problem.” If one has to project the number hunters seeking help for mental health problems, this implies that there are a substantial number of hunters “seeking professional help for mental health problems” who are in possession of a lethal shotgun and in most probability will be roaming around in our country side armed with these weapons to the potential determent of the public in general ?
I honestly suggest that the commissioned Malta Association of Psychiatric Nurses should obliged to at least put forward to the authorities, the names of these hunters with mental health problems so as to at least ban these hunters from hunting until they are certified that they have recovered from their mental problem and are fit to carry a weapon and practice their sport in the public.
Charles Grixti
May 30th 2012, 13:13
I get the same way when I do not get to vent my anger and frustration on those that are smaller and weaker then me.
Grow up 'hunters' or shall we say, babies. Why don't you trade in your guns for a 'gazaza".
This artilce is such a joke, if it appeard anywhere else in the world in would be in satirical and humourous publications such as The Onion or Mad magazine. Only in Malta as they say.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 13:09
Dear antis, due to your heavy anxiety you are not realizing, that this report is based on the 2008/9/10 ban. Spring hunting resumed again in 2011, so don't alarm yourself that you're not safe.
And please try to show some respect to the families of the unfortunate dead people. I know of old people who use to trap for all their lives and died desperately.
All you are doing is generating hatred, with your lousy comments.
Where are the cwiec maltin who supported the foreigners to film us? We are in desperate need of some foreign media to show the world what is happening in the Mediterranean and everyone is turning his back, where is RTL.
Dorielle Soler
May 30th 2012, 13:08
Perhaps they would like to launch a study into depression and anxiety levels amongst secretaries ? I'll willingly take part. U hallini tridux !!!!!
Sarah Camilleri
May 30th 2012, 12:59
"The reported incidence of mental health problems in the hunting community was far above the national average, he added"
Great - very reassuring. I feel sooo safe when I see all these armed men running around our countryside - especially now that I know many of them have mental health issues.
James Tyrrell
May 30th 2012, 12:56
There are ordinary people in Malta who have real problems and suffer from stress and anxiety, so should the problem be treated differently for hunters? People are continuously placed under stress by the ever increasing bills coming through the door, by unemployment issues, by illness etc. yet here we have hunters and trappers complaining about how stressful it is not being allowed to kill things or trap little birds in cages! So in answer to my original question, should hunters be treated differently I would say yes they should because it scares the hell out of me to think of so many people in Malta suffering from stress and anxiety yet allowed to carry guns.
Gordon Galea
May 30th 2012, 12:55
Hunting also causes stress and anxiety to the majority of the people who can't stand birds being shot - so ban hunting all together and relieve the stress for more people than just the egoist hunters.
R Slater
May 30th 2012, 12:46
So basically what they are saying is that people who own a gun licence are now stressed and have mental health problems, thus in logical theory, should not have the right to hold a gun licence, thus making them more depressed and anxious because they can't shoot anything except themselves, which they are prone to do ....brilliant ... give it another few years and the problem is solved....but as mr Ward has quite rightly stated we won't be able to ask why these people did kill themselves, as they are dead. Well worth the money
John Wilman
May 30th 2012, 13:48
Well said
Francis Sammut
May 30th 2012, 12:32
But Mr. Borg what's the alternative if at the end of the day quitting is the only option? It's no use crying over spilt milk. If worst comes to the worst, then what? Am I going to get all axious and depressed, taking pills by the dozen and get all suicidal over a hobby whatever and forever reason the ban was imposed? Not on your life! I repeat. It's all in the mind. One can do it. You only need the will to do something else.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 13:21
Who said we are going to quit?
C Borg
May 30th 2012, 15:12
If things work out that simple as much as you put it then half of the smokers would have quitted in no time and psychiatrists should have run out of job rather than having queues.
Alex Ellul
May 30th 2012, 12:15
Excuse me, why a nurse and not a fully fledged, excuse the pun, psychiatrist?
Steve Demicoli
May 31st 2012, 07:21
Simple - because a psychiatrist reviews a patient for a few minutes once in a while and a psychiatric nurse accompanies and supports patients through thick and thin with far more patient contact and therefore would have far more patient contact time
Alex Ellul
May 30th 2012, 12:13
We ask for a referendum on hunting and settle the matter once and for all as we did with the divorce issue. Hunting is making everyone too much stressed, hunters for the fear of not being able to hunt in Spring and the majority of the population for having to bear with the continuous bangs from 1st September to mid January (4.5 months) and another month in Spring, that is, practically half the year living with bird-killing bangs.
Referendum please, thus we will settle the issue and relieve the national stress level.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 30th 2012, 12:47
it's end January not mid-janaury and we only hope for the "bird-killing bangs" to be continuous, since reality is far from that.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 12:48
Mr Ellul Try to digest that the referendum was already conducted in 2003, If you voted YES you also voted for hunting and trapping which was one of the special agreement as stated by MIC. If can't accept that ask for a re-referendum as it was in 2003.
Ramon Casha
May 30th 2012, 12:13
Did they check whether the rest of the population felt LESS stress and anxiety while visiting the countryside during the same period?
S Calleja
May 30th 2012, 12:34
Very good point!!!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 30th 2012, 12:55
Fresh air and open spaces are what are recommended to relieve stress and anxiety. This explains why hunters and trappers have always sought such therapy.
So should you be the only one to enjoy such benefits when no one stops you from doing so other than your confirmed bias!!
The Maltese countryside is there for all to enjoy and if you ever bother to check this maybe you should start trying it just like the thousands that do.
I suggest a good way of doing that. a leaflet entitled RECLAIM YOUR COUNTRYSIDE will explain how to enjoy the countryside whilst stopping hunters from doing so. Ever heard of it?
Alex Ellul
May 30th 2012, 12:10
So, do hunters get stressed when they spend a whole day or days out in the fields without seeing one single bird and no 'trophies' to take home? Is bagging nothing the same as not hunting, or worse?
Phillip Johnston-Theuma
May 30th 2012, 12:09
My heart bleeds for hunters who experience stress and anxiety. Try being unemployed for twelve months, then they would know what stress and anxiety was. Better still find them a good physically tiring job for them to do, which would keep their mind occupied with other things than hunting and all they will want to do when they get home is to rest and sleep. A consequence of this? No mental health issues! Wildlife flourishes!
R. Cilia
May 30th 2012, 16:36
So, according to you being unemployed is the only cause of stress.As far as I know hunting is a hobby, something you do in your free time.
C Pisani
May 30th 2012, 12:08
So what happens to hunters when there is no hunting. Are they constantly on anti depressants, or do they still go out and hunt. Come on, stop insulting our intelligence. As other people commented, find an alternative. As I have already mentioned, I don't give two hoots whether hunters are allowed to practice their sport/ hobby/ passion, call it whatever you want. What i am against is having to pay a fine from my taxes, so that a SMALL percentage of the Maltese population have no regard for ANY law, and not just hunting regulations. If there is anything else we may be fined for, I DO NOT WANT to pay for it, so that a few can enjoy themselves.
If ALL hunters respected the laws, there wouldn't be this animosity towards them.
anthony sultana
May 30th 2012, 12:08
Life birds are more cool then ,dead birds.Dead birds goes to the bin,or under some stones, few that goes in the stomach, because they are not so good to eat.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 12:53
Your comment about abortion.
anthony sultana
Today, 17:45
How do you know if there was 63, not all the women are going to tell, that they made an abortion.Making abortion at an early stage is not killing babies.
Is this cool for you?
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 30th 2012, 15:08
Anything else about Life birds or dead birds that goes to the bin or stomach?. So Cool!!!
James McIntosh
May 30th 2012, 12:06
I agree that if this report is true then there are MANY gun owners who should have their permits, to own a gun, revoked until a satisfactory psychological report on their mental health is established. If these poor gun owners are "disturbed" by not being able to fire these weapons in a killing mode then they SURELY are mentally unstable and should not be permitted a license for ANY weapon, EVER.
Pia Attard
May 30th 2012, 12:05
Sounds like FKNK propaganda to me, i have no idea why the TOM would even publish this. I wouldn't be surprised if FKNK recommended that hunters seek medical help just so they can "show" how stressed they get because they can't shoot weapons at migrating birds TWICE a year rather than once.
It's so expensive to have a hunting hobby, why don't they invest that money into Digital SLR cameras, and shoot ANY bird they like with those?! You don't need a license, you can do it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (366 in 2012), you can use your hunting cabins, and in the long run you will save money!! You are conserving, showing EVERYONE the beauty of the birds that fly through Malta! You are still "shooting" and it's still a "sport" in the same way hunting is, but nothing is harmed! Just think outside the box!!!
Hunters know all the lovely spots, they can enjoy nature, and they are not limited to 10 birds a season! :D
R Mallia
May 30th 2012, 13:09
Best Answer to this article!
Alex Ellul
May 30th 2012, 12:03
I become highly stressed with every shotgun blast I hear during the hunting seasons, and more when the seasons are supposedly closed, knowing that another bird has been either killed, mortally wounded and left to die a lonely and painful death. It is reason enough for hunting to be banned if using the same yardstick being (ab)used here by the minority hunting community.
Joe A. Borg
May 30th 2012, 11:46
Alternative activities to alleviate mental stress:
Art
Photography
Running
Walking
Talking to your wife/partner
Play with your children
Reading, etc...
E. De Marco
May 30th 2012, 12:35
They should have fun with birds.....not the feathered ones, of course, but still two-legged
Karl Consiglio
May 30th 2012, 14:58
swimming
windsurfing
dancing
sex
football
fly a kite
play a musical instrument
diving, snorkeling,
canoeing....etc.....
John Micallef
May 30th 2012, 11:40
So what?
I am stressed that I have to pay taxes... Should I be omitted from paying them since I get anxiety and stress when I have to?
I Bugeja
May 30th 2012, 11:35
The idea of the booklet for tourists is a really good one and I am not being sarcastic here. On one side I do not agree with hunting however on another side bird life have really marred our image through the broadcast of rtl in germany where malta was depicted as Europe's slaughterhouse.
However imagine the scenario where a tourist interests himself in this booklet and would want to meet a hunter on site... I would imagine the hunters chasing him away.
Therefore in this case the booklet is more of a form of publicty for FKNK rather than anything else.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 12:43
Mr Bugeja, I'm sorry but you have the wrong imagination. Very often we meet with tourists on private lands, and they take interest of what we hunt, and even sometimes they invite us for a picture. In my opinion people are using the tourists as an excuse so that the countryside will be free for all without any respect to land owners.
I can assure you that tourists have a different perspective of us. From the thousands of tourists that they visited our country in the past 30 years or so, how many genuine letters did you read that tourists were harassed while in the countryside?
Hanneke Wessels
May 30th 2012, 22:06
Johanna Wessels from Holland
Since 1996 I visit Malta and I cannot get used to this bird slaughter. I once have been threated by a man who pointed at me with his gun, because I was telling him I thought it is a cruel "sport". He had a little bird in a cage as a bait in his backyard, fasten up to one leg; really disgusting!
Another time when I was at the beach between the hills in Ramla Bay it seems like war. Shooting on little birds from the hills with huge guns!! I went back to Valletta, my day was spoiled.
Hunters, please try to find a more respectable hobby.
Carmelo Aquilina
May 30th 2012, 11:27
Mr Ward is a respectable professional gentleman who I respect but I have to ask the following:
a) how impartial is the research, when funded by and presented in a FKNK event. The research should be subject to peer preview and published in a psychiatric journal. Otherwise this is akin to chocolate companies sponsoring research on how good chocolate is for your health.
b) perhaps Mr ward or the FKNK think whether individuals with obsessive compulsive behaviors(e.g. people who cannot think of anything else except killing birds for example) should be cured of this behavior or encouraged to continue doing so.
c) whether or not the FKNK shares some of the blame for the distress of its members when it has not prepared them for the changes that modern European legislation, enforcement and scrutiny will bring.
Joseph Borg
May 30th 2012, 12:01
I hope you are somehow involved in psychiatry and you done you studies (pls quote if so) cause otherwise all you're saying is complete BS.
Accusing one of the most important person involved in psychiatry as being biased is a bit far fetched unless you can provide any studies saying the contrary of what Mr Ward is.
Publishing your study in a journal makes your study more valuable, however that does not mean his study is biased because you don't like the outcome! its like when Alfred Sant said Partneship won (and this is just an example casue its coming from a PL supporter!)
moreover, can you please enlighten me how you ended up concluding that ALL hunters suffer from OCD? Do you think all hunters have obsession for killing birds?
If a footballer gets injured and he cant play anymore and he falls in a depression does that make him suffer from OCD?
C Borg
May 30th 2012, 12:16
'c) whether or not the FKNK shares some of the blame for the distress of its members when it has not prepared them for the changes that modern European legislation, enforcement and scrutiny will bring.'
So what sort of preparation you call the letters by MIC, Dr Eddie Fenech Adami and others all of which assured the hunters and trappers that their passtime will remain or even get better this modern Europe?
Carmelo Aquilina
May 30th 2012, 14:51
Joseph I have the Australian and British Fellowship in Psychiatry and 30 years experience in this field and am trained in evidence based medicine, and am a published researcher and reviewer for scientific papers for three international journals . Now tell me your qualifications (apart from liking to kill birds) and I'll take you seriously. The onus on proving this research on the FKNK and not the other way round. Publish the data and method for the study or until then this is not valid research but FKNK PR bubble
Carmelo Aquilina
May 30th 2012, 15:15
@ Mr Borg I do not refer to the behavior not the clinical disorder . If you want it in Maltese it is "iffissat" and anyone who does not have any other interest or activity in their life be it family, exercise, etc can fairly be labelled in this way wheter it is hunting, fireworks, knitting, etc
Mario Tabone
May 30th 2012, 11:11
''From a randomly selected sample of 780 hunters and trappers, 61 per cent reported seeking professional help for a mental health problem.''
This is really a worry. These people are freely admitting to suffering from mental illness yet they are still allowed to keep their shotguns and continue using them !!!
At the very least they should be surrendering their guns and licence to the authorities while they are undergoing treatment or assessment to safeguard the general public.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
May 30th 2012, 11:39
And what about those owning cars, carving knives, mallets etc. are they to to surrender these when undergoing treatment?
Your bias against hunting is so obvious.
And lest you have not realized, the study was commissioned in 2009 where spring hunting and trapping where suspended since 2008. Since then the re-opening of spring hunting provided the best therapy for the hunters that suffered any form of depression. It is only trappers which are still being cheated out of what was a political promise, namely the continuance of finch trapping, that still show any such symptoms.
Trappers do not carry guns, so your concern is totally unfounded. Given the current situation another similar survey will definitely prove my point.
Mario Tabone
May 30th 2012, 14:17
Mark, you disappoint me !!!
You now make the excuse that it is basically only trappers who are admitting to being mentally unstable or suffering from a mental disorder, just because it suites you to say so !!!!!
Please be realistic and for once in your life admit that you are wrong. Anybody undergoing mental health issues should not be allowed to have access to a firearm, end of story !!!
You say that this is not an issue anymore because of when the report was published and also because it is now only trappers suffering !!! You are really not real . Everybody knows that in the main we are talking about the same people and that most if not all trappers will have guns because they are also so called hunters. Stop trying to mislead people and if you cannot be honest and transparent in what you write I suggest you refrain from doing so in the first place as you cause the general public to mistrust you and your members more and more every time you come out with these ludicrous statements.
Richard Curmi
May 30th 2012, 11:09
No hunters in sight. What a joy to watch lovely birds diving down and enjoying themselves so freely in my backyard.
They even build their nests and multiply rent free and knowing that they are safe.
In return they make my family and me happy with their chirping. They are welcome all the time.
Enjoy them and don' t kill them. Birds make enrich our lives and our environment.
C Borg
May 30th 2012, 12:09
Mr Curmi, the fact that you are seeing birds in your backyard means that the hunting open season had no effect on the birds you are seeing. Hunters can enjoy their hunting season and you still can enjoy birds in your backyard unless you are expecting turtle doves and quails to nest in your backyard. Live and let live.
S Calleja
May 30th 2012, 12:43
Practice live and let live with the BIRDS Mr. Borg!!!!
Richard Curmi
May 31st 2012, 11:44
Mr. Borg actually both turtle doves and quails do nest in my passion fruit creeper and gum trees. And I take good care that their nests are kept out of harm' s way so that they can enjoy raising up their family.
May family and I enjoy watching them bringing all kinds of twigs and sprigs and other stuff to build thei nests. Then we take care to lift up any fallen eggs and put them back in the nest. And what a wonderful time we have watching the parents teaching the young fellows to fly. Life is so beautiful; death is so cruel.
Yes I live and joyfully let birds live. Try to do the same and you'll see how much you'll enjoy it.
Other welcome vistors to our backyard are rosellas, finches, cockatoos, among others. Free winged creatures without anyone trying to destroy them.
anthony sultana
May 30th 2012, 11:04
What hunting ,in Malta,because you kill 10 birds all year ,can you call that hunting,most of the hunters say no is not hunting,it is very boring hobby but it is a tradition that we get from our grandfathers,so is more a hope that one day we see 1000 of birds hitting our faces.But that is impossible as you can see, every year we see less birds than the previous years.So we must stop birds killing to save the few that is left .
W Cassar
May 30th 2012, 10:57
What about the mental health problems of people who get woken up by gun fire in the early morning? Or the emotional stress of ramblers who are told to get off land facing a gun barrel ?
We can all make these stories FKNK!
Alex Ellul
May 30th 2012, 12:07
exactly.
Mr Daniel Jones
May 30th 2012, 10:49
Can someone please clarify how many of these people suffering from mental health problems still have a gun license?
Surely anyone suffering in such a way should have the guns and licenses removed as a matter of priority as they could be a danger to themselves and others.
C Borg
May 30th 2012, 12:02
First of all most trappers have no guns.
You should also compare this 'danger' to the crimes being committed by non hunters to establish the' priority'
george vassallo
May 30th 2012, 10:35
I never went hunting but I understand that for those who do cannot replace hunting with another hobby!! So if you like reading books, would you like me to burn every book you have and tell you to find another Hobby? I didn't think so. Hunting is legal in every EU country and yes also for birds which are illegal here in Malta. So how about show some respect to whatever hobby anyone possesses.
Mark Cutajar
May 30th 2012, 10:50
The day they respect wildlife is the day they will earn respect
Francis Sammut
May 30th 2012, 10:33
In mm book one must be out of his mind and not thinking clearly if because of hunting bans (he) falls into anxiety and stress and decides to end his life. That is madness! I would advice to take another hobby like gardening, bird watching (am I serious?) etc. Whatever one is inclined to do whether as a hobby or work, it's all in the mind. One can, if there's the will to change habits, and way of life. Again, there must be the will to change. Myself, I am a geenfinger. I don't have a garden but I went for the next best thing. I happen to have a fairly large roof area and so I decided to have my garden there on the roof. If say, to give an example, the government legislates against me enjoying my favorite pastime (because I do have others) I feel confident and will be doing everything in my power (you see it's all to do with will power) that I'm not going to fall in any depression or stress. On need to be ready for change. This also happens, especially in these austerity days, in the place of work. It's called flexibility. One need to be flexible and ready to change if the time requires it. If I was a hunter ( and I have nothing against hunters per se) I say to myself, I am my own man. I have a brain. I need and must control myself. I cannot afford to let my body be controlled this way. One must have determination and resolve to focus on what one may do to to keep going. Getting depressed, stressed and doing something grazy, is not an option, in my opinion.
C Borg
May 30th 2012, 11:55
I agree with most of what you said but you have to admit that no one is like any other and quitting a hobby that grew up with you for most of your life is not easy at all. Another thing is that here we're talking about a hobby which in many cases has been the relief from many problems of daily life. One must also take into account the reason why the ban was imposed.
Jay Oatmon
May 30th 2012, 10:31
It is 2012 not 1812 killing birds for sport can only be justifed where there is an extensive wilderness - places like Russia, Canada, Africa.
Here in Malta we are now completely urban and have no wilderness left - so killing things with guns is spoiling the right to peace and the safety of families who visit these last green areas in Malta.
A gun club can serve the same urge to shoot - at targets or clays.
Pippo De Marco
May 30th 2012, 10:23
The FKNK Report's author highlighted two significant things:-
1. "The reported incidence of mental health problems in the hunting community was far above the national average." - ( enough said )
2. "Hunters had to consider whether it was appropriate to expose their children to hunting, given the potential consequences during adulthood if the activity was denied"
An excellent days Foot-shooting. Well done FKNK.
Jeremy Azzopardi
May 30th 2012, 12:15
they should have conducted this study BEFORE the bans as well. I wonder what the results would have been then.
G Caruana
May 30th 2012, 10:18
''Other countries are exposing children at a very young age because it's healthy and safe.''
So stress, anxiety, suicides & seeking professional help for mental health problems is healthy & safe for children?
Susan Cassar
May 30th 2012, 10:14
Find another hobby..birds are for everyone to enjoy not target practice... or to end up stuffed in your living room
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 09:54
Well done FKNK for this study.
Just to add few points, many hunters and trappers also suffered financial losses, after investing a lot of money related to hunting and those businesses that depends from hunting and trapping. We should not also forget our dogs that we could not take out at that time. Last and not least is the betrayal by our government and the EU commissioner.
"Giving an overview of the findings during a press conference organised by FKNK, Mr Ward said hunters had to consider whether it was appropriate to expose their children to hunting, given the potential consequences during adulthood if the activity was denied them"
Our children are automatically exposed to hunting, however becoming a hunter depends from their instinct and passion for nature. Other countries are exposing children at a very young age because it's healthy and safe.
Julian Caruana
May 30th 2012, 10:13
Cry me a river. Get over it. Find another more dignified hobby. If you want to shoot at things join a gun club and go and shoot plates every sunday at maghtab. Im sure you can all measure your egos and get over your psychological problems by compring the number of plates shot down instead of birds.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 10:50
Mr Caruana, just to remind you, that hunting is still practiced from September till January, and also in spring so you're the one to get over it. The subject is about the effect on hunters during the three year ban and a definite ban for trappers which was promised and guaranteed to continue.
Hunting is there to stay, like many other European countries.
W Cassar
May 30th 2012, 12:54
What a load of hogwash!
R Mallia
May 30th 2012, 13:04
Oh please Mr.Formosa.. what about other businesses which you (the 10%) are losing them money such as Tourism!
Because of this study, the government should take action and confiscate any guns which are owned by mentally stressed hunters because it's not safe for the public or our police which are doing their rounds in our countryside.
When is CABS getting that second drone?
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 15:07
Mr Mallia, as far as I'm concerned Malta broke every record in tourism for the last 4 years even though BLM and CABS tried so hard to jeopardize our main industry, so where is your point?
You don't know that spring season opened again? And it will open again and again and again, and next time longer period. You don't know that trappers don't carry guns?
Pauline Peterson
May 30th 2012, 09:33
"Experiencing mental health problems because of the hunting ban."
Don't make me laugh.
Hunters have no right to kill. We don't have to hunt these days for food. Go find another hobby, and leave the poor animals alone.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 09:59
Ms Peterson, how insensible of you. Hunting for us is like when suddenly you loose your loved one, that is how it feels. May I ask who has the right to kill and to die for you to provide your food?
Fran Abela
May 30th 2012, 11:17
Agree totally with you. As for Mr. Formosa comparing hunting same as losing one's loved ones when this is restricted - I have no answer. What is the scope of hunting please - do you eat the birds that you kill ?
No one has the right to kill agreed but when certain animals are killed for food they are replaced by others. Providing food is not the same as killing for the sheer pleasure of it.
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 11:46
Fran Abela, All game birds can be eaten and nothing is wasted, some hunters also prefer to keep that particular bird as a trophy. The pleasure of it is the delicacy compared with what is bought over the shelves. I suggest you try for once and you will not talk anymore against hunting. Hunting is done in a sustainable manner.
Mario Tabone
May 30th 2012, 14:25
@ Anthony Formosa
You said it mate.....they keep the bird as a trophy !!!
And what may I ask gives you or any so called hunter the right to kill a bird that could be enjoyed by everyone, and keep it as a personal trophy.
If you want to keep a record take a photo of it and leave it so somebody else might be able to do the same.
But with your own words you prove the selfishness of so called hunters who just dont give two hoots about anybody else .
Anthony Formosa
May 30th 2012, 15:02
Mr Tabone, Is there anything wrong if I shoot a legally duck and mounted? Shooting a duck in Malta is a one time opportunity. So before you show us how clever you are, try to learn more about hunting in Malta.
Isola Danti
May 30th 2012, 15:11
Anthony Formosa, do you know when you kill a bird you make most of us loosing something we all love? This barbaric selfish so-called hobby should be banned once and for all.
Please choose the reason of your report below: