Labour MP Deborah Schembri told Parliament yesterday that last year she met five girls aged between 11 and 18 who had been contemplating suicide because they could not cope with the stress in their families.

Unfortunately, she said, the parents were more concerned with fighting one another rather than acting in a civilised manner to prevent further trauma to their children.

It was not only important to have laws such as the Counselling Professions Bill, but to regulate each and every sector that had to do with post-separation anxiety – an issue which was not often mentioned.

Dr Schembri said the Bill would be promoting better standards and professional ethics in the field of mental health, with more regulation and with a definition of who could practise as a counsellor.

Proper records and counselling plans needed to be maintained. There had to be informed consent by the patient, and the relationship between patient and counsellor needed to be kept on a professional basis.

Confidentiality must be respected at all times.

However, in very specific cases, such as if the patient was going to harm himself or others, or when there was knowledge of child or elderly abuse, such information had to be reported.

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