Every human being’s inherent dignity is to be respected even when it is proven that he or she has committed cruel acts or crimes, the Richmond Foundation stresses.
It denounced any brutal actions inflicting pain and suffering on animals, but it denounced the “acts” of cruelty and not the person.
For ethical reasons, the foundation did not refer to any particular case involving cruelty towards animals, adding that its statement had to be understood in general terms.
It comes, however, a few days after a 37-year-old man was charged with a series of animal crucifixions in Mosta over several years. He is in psychiatric care.
The foundation expressed its concern about people’s misperception that people with mental health problems were likely to be unpredictable and violent towards others including animals. In reality, most people with mental health problems enjoyed the company of animals and treated them well, it said, adding animals often proved to be therapeutic.
“At times, animals can be the only living creatures with a ‘non-judgemental attitude’ towards people with mental illnesses,” the foundation said.
Ill people need treatment, support and compassion
“In extreme cases, which normally draw the media’s attention and spur sensationalism, people may not be in their full mental capacity due to mental illness and thus commit odd or bizarre behaviour. In any case, ill people need treatment, support and compassion.”
Media sensationalism, including the public’s negative and pejorative comments on message boards and social networks, subjected the individual concerned to undue pressure as well as degrading and inhumane treatment.
Furthermore, the foundation continued, sensationalism enhanced stigma towards mental illnesses.
“Stigma is counterproductive as, normally, people with mental health problems are reluctant to seek professional help because they fear exclusion and embarrassment.
“A quarter of the Maltese population experience mental health problems at any point in their life.”
The Richmond Foundation is calling for a National Strategy on Mental Health targeting six areas: the promotion of mental health, prevention and early intervention, education on mental illnesses, service provision, research and service evaluation, and legislation.
An issue that needed to be given more importance was collaboration between disciplines and agencies, it said.
“It is through such effective collaboration that mental health services are more likely to offer a timely and holistic service to those who need it.”