Crisis Resolution Malta, a network of professionals who can be contacted in case of a crisis, was officially launched this afternoon.

The service is the brainchild of general practitioner, emergency doctor and psychiatrist Mark Xuereb.

CRM brings together a private network of 12 professionals one can contact in case of a crisis.

The professionals, who include psychologists, mental health and emergency nurses, lawyers, counsellors, a priest and doctors will intervene as appropriate to help resolve crises.

The professionals are available between 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. and can be contacted on 9933 9966, e-mail crisismalta@gmail.com. The network is also on Facebook.

Dr Xuereb told a news conference that there was a lot of suffering which was not exposed and the point of the initiative was to try to tackle crises at an early stage to avoid bigger problems in future.

Although the network is not another Appogg, it is open to collaboration with the government and other existing services. Its aim is to offer immediate care to people when they needed it most.

Since this is a private initiative, the services offered will be against a fee.

Dr Xuereb said that 14 suicides were committed in Malta last year - 12 by men, two by women.