In an activity marking the 10th Mental Health Day celebrated by the World Health Organisation every year on 10 October, Health Minister Louis Deguara yesterday opened a seminar to launch the “Well Being Support programme”.

The programme is structured to promote health and prevention of physical health issues such as heart disease and diabetes among those clients suffering from mental health problems.

Dr Deguara said he was content with the efforts made to improve the quality of the mental health service sector.

He said the vision behind these efforts was one of “empowerment” for a more effective and multi-disciplinary cure to patients, not only to address the mental health problems in a more effective manner but also to reintegrate these patients back in the socio-economic world to improve their quality of life and that of their family.

The environment at Mount Carmel Hospital and its procedures needed to be altered for a healthier ambience together with a more efficient and effective cure, he said. With the managerial reforms introduced at the hospital, cultural change in the staff’s mentality was implemented in order for the patient to receive the respect he deserved, the adequate cure, counselling, and holistic and personal services.

Dr Deguara said the ministry was in talks with The Richmond Foundation and Suriet il-Bniedem to open hostels in the community for a category of patients who would be lodged at Mount Carmel hospital before living in the community again.

On an international level, Dr Deguara said that efforts were made by the ministry to promote mental health and were proactive in organising effective and holistic strategies on mental illness in the European Union and the World Health Organisation. A focal point was even implemented to spread information among member states on evidence based practices and mental health research.

Dr Deguara said that tomorrow, Mr Markos Kyprianou, European Health commissioner, will be in Malta and one of the points on the agenda is the government’s wish for a European strategy structured by the European Union on mental health promotion and prevention built on the principle listed in the Helsinki declaration.