Leafing through a book of people's prayers at Mater Dei Hospital's chapel, Martin Ward came across entreaties to the Almighty to help loved ones or themselves deal with their "terrible depression".
Mr Ward, who chairs the European Expert Panel of Psychiatric Nurses in The Netherlands and is the author of numerous books on the subject, believes there are many people suffering from mental health problems in silence.
"Depression is like a black cloak that envelopes individuals and dampens their whole lives making them less capable of leading a normal life. Sadly, because of the stigma attached to mental illness, they will not come forward for help," he says.
Quoting research conducted by the World Health Organisation, Mr Ward says depression is estimated to become the biggest health problem in the world by 2020.
At the moment, a conservative estimate puts one in 10 people in any population as suffering from a mental health problem, which would mean that in Malta there could be some 40,000 people with such concerns.
Mr Ward is hoping to help change the situation. Contracted by the Health Department and the University of Malta to set up and deliver graduate programmes for psychiatric nurses, he is already noticing a difference.
The first step was to encourage qualified nurses to take on a three-year conversion programme in psychiatric nursing. The first group graduated two years ago and there are now 20 psychiatric nurses at Mount Carmel Hospital and community outreach teams.
This small cohort is taking lead roles in the development of care services and developing standards in mental health.
"Undoubtedly, psychiatric nurses are the jewel in the clinical crown," he said.
Encouraged by the feedback, Mr Ward is starting a direct entry full-time graduate programme in psychiatric nursing at the University of Malta in October.
Anyone aged 18-40, who is interested in this career and believes he or she can make a difference to the island's fabric, are optimistic, interested in human behaviour and have a sense of caring, can apply.
"To do it properly you have to be committed to helping people in terrible pain.
"One thing that hit me throughout my career is that you can be in qualified psychiatric nursing but not be a psychiatric nurse," he said.
Psychiatric nursing involves working with individuals, families, groups and communities to assess mental health needs, develop diagnoses, and plan, implement and develop an individual nursing care programme.
As the trend moves towards providing care within the community, the need for psychiatric nurses becomes even more pronounced.
The topic will be discussed at length in November when Horatio, the European Association of Psychiatric Nurses, will be organising its European festival in Malta.
Over 500 delegates from 35 countries are expected to descend on the island for the meeting, which will include a conference where 220 papers will be presented together with a festival of films, competitions, guest interviews, auctions, music, art and poetry - all dealing with mental health.
Late applications for the full-time graduate programme in psychiatric nursing will be received until August 29 and can be downloaded from www.um.edu.mt/_data/assests/pdf_file/0007/38383/admissions-notice-oct08.pdf.