An employee with a mental health disorder should be treated in a similar way to a worker with a physical illness, the Mental Health Commissioner said ahead of a new play to be staged today about the stigma of mental illness.

“The recent Germanwings tragedy has shown us that, if the employment system punishes people with mental health disorders, employees will hide them,” John Cachia told this newspaper. “People with mental health issues, unlike those who fracture a bone or are diagnosed with a chronic illness, risk losing their job if they speak up. However, just as a person needs a couple of months away from work following surgery, people with mental health issues need some time off work as well.”

Dr Cachia will this evening be among those watching the performance about the taboo of mental illness.

The first of its kind, the experimental theatre piece, by the community Theatre Group within the Malta Drama Centre, will be performed in front of a select audience. Based on the feedback, it will then be developed into a public performance for later on this year.

Some refuse to accept the illness and hide it to protect the family name

The group is made up of nine actors aged between 24 and 70 who, under the tuition of renowned actor Manuel Cassar, have come up with a performance called Il-Vuċi.

The group met Dr Cachia to understand the issues and kick off a discussion about them.

Mental illness is seen as a scourge of young people today. About 80 per cent of mental health issues can be recognised by the age of 25, with half of these people having experienced some kind of trauma before turning 15.

Dr Cachia noted there are several misconceptions about mental health, and depression has become something of a buzzword.

Unfortunately, he added, some people refuse to accept their relatives’ mental illness and hide the ailment from others to protect the family name.

Although Malta’s mental health figures are similar to European ones, local awareness is low and treatment often postponed. It is estimated that only half of those who need help actually seek it.

Theatre is an unconventional means of raising awareness but Dr Cachia hopes it will pass on the message where other forms of media have failed. Just as disability and cancer are no longer taboo, he believes the fight can be won within the mental health sector.