The Richmond Foundation, which helps people with mental health problems, yesterday celebrated its 15th anniversary by launching a new logo and stamp for the occasion.

A conference was held yesterday morning during which foundation chairman Anthony Guillaumier launched the programme for the next year and hinted at the opening of a respite care service at Richmond's Villa Chelsea that offers rehabilitation for patients with mental health problems.

This centre will offer another service in an array of services already offered by the non-governmental, non-profit organisation that was founded in 1993. Mr Guillaumier said that, over the past two years, the foundation had doubled its employees, to over 40, to keep up with the increasing demands.

The Prime Minister's wife Kate Gonzi, who is the vice chairman of the Richmond Foundation, thanked the staff for their work and praised the progress made by the foundation that has been working with mental health patients over the past 15 years.

The Richmond Foundation offers people with mental health problems an array of services that help them to remain in the community and live as full a life as possible.

It provides opportunities for training, employment and support at the workplace as well as services aimed at preventing mental health problems in the workplace.

It promotes the development of self-help in mental health, promotes positive public awareness of related issues and provides training in the mental health and other caring fields.