[attach id=247972 size="medium"]Mental Health Commissioner John Cachia.[/attach]
The Commissioner for Mental Health has received a number of complaints alleging breaches of human rights in public, private and domestic settings.
The alleged violations were committed against persons with mental health problems and elderly people, Commissioner John Cachia says in his annual report for 2012, laid on the table of the House by the Speaker, yesterday.
Mr Cachia refrained from giving the number of complaints received, their nature or the action taken. In all cases, he said, the complainant had been informed of the outcome of the investigation.
The Office of the Commissioner, set up in 2011, cooperates with governmental entities and NGOs to ensure that both the elderly and people with mental health problems enjoy the best care and services. The commissioner probes complaints by people facing mental health problems and also deals with issues related to elderly citizens and their relatives.
The report mentions a visit paid to the Young People’s Unit (YPU) and Hostel at Mount Carmel Hospital, where it was agreed to provide more space for children and adolescents by transferring the female residents accommodated in the hostel on the first floor of the YPU building to community facilities.
With this move, completed at the end of last year, the YPU can accommodate 16 clients.
Mr Cachia expressed concern that the setup at Mount Carmel Hospital was not adequate to meet the needs of children with behavioural and social problems.
In February, a consultant with expertise in child psychiatry started weekly sessions at the young people’s institutions Fejda and St Jeanne Antide. Those receiving treatment included adolescents under the age of 19.
In a meeting with the Commissioner of Police, it was acknowledged that people with mental health problems should be treated in a more dignified manner when being escorted from their homes by the police to a mental health facility. The police requested that professionals in mental health assist them during such instances and the Mental Health Services are to provide basic training.