Two outreach apartments for mental health patients were inaugurated by the government this morning.

Patients living at the flats, both for men, are taught life skills, including how to catch a bus, cook and clean to prepare them for the community. Some of the residents have been living at Mount Carmel for over 20 years.

Other patients shall be moving in two flats given by the Housing Authority for former Mount Carmel patients to increase their life skills and further insert themselves in the community.

Community care parliamentary secretary Mario Galea said that when services were increased in the community, there was a drastic drop in admissions to Mount Carmel. The length of stays was also shorter.

Mr Galea said that most community services were in the south but the government planned to increase such services to all the regions.

According to the World Health Organisation, 33 per cent of the world population suffered from a mental health problem each year. Eight per cent suffered from a serious mental health problem at some point.