Everyone in society, including people with mental health problems, had a role to fulfil – no one was a coincidence, said President Edward Fenech Adami during an event commemorating World Mental Health Day.

The event, held at Mount Carmel Hospital, was attended by politicians and policy makers including Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant, Health Minister Louis Deguara, Archbishop Paul Cremona OP, and Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo.

Dr Fenech Adami spoke of his visit, earlier yesterday morning, to Wardija Special School and said that he attended a concert put together by the students.

“We take care of everyone in society because we all have a role to fulfil – we are not a coincidence. We might not understand this fully but it forms part of our Christian beliefs,” said the President.

He spoke about the irony of recent times where there was great progress in the rights of human beings but also a great lack of respect towards them. “Is it a human right to deprive someone of care and is it a right to have euthanasia,” he wondered.

This discussion was a reality in European civil society and was very central to today’s society, he added. “Malta is not immune from these theories,” he said.

The President spoke about how, in the past, people with mental health problems were taken care of by their families.

“Even though today we have hospitals and homes we must not shirk our responsibility to give a service to those in need,” he said.

The chairman of the board of directors of Mount Carmel Hospital, Louis Bonnici explained that World Mental Health Day was set up by the World Federation of Mental Health in 1992 to help create awareness about mental health.

Mr Bonnici said that people in the field were working hard to fight the stigma against mental health.

He spoke about the radical changes that were slowly being brought about to the hospital, such as making it more family and client friendly.

Mr Bonnici called on everyone to stay away from gambling, drugs and alcohol abuse as these might lead to people having mental health problems.

“People who have mental health problems all have a right to work, dignity, to stay at home and be treated as human beings,” he said.

Mr Bonnici called on the politicians present to pass the Mental Health Act through parliament as soon as possible.

“Financial institutions should also lend money at reasonable rates and make sure that the person can pay back the sum and is fully aware of the consequences,” he said.

He also called for the setting up of a research centre focusing on dementia and for more community hostels to be opened with a crisis intervention team that would focus on the community.

“We are hoping to widen the services offered by our community hostel in Qormi to Cottonera,” said Mr Bonnici.

Prime Minister Gonzi said that society’s attitude has changed in a positive way where mental health was concerned.

“However, there is still a lot more that needs to be done,” he said. “It is still possible for people who have mental health problems to be reintegrated in society and remain independent.”

He appealed to the Maltese, especially employers, to recognise a person’s dignity in all circumstances of reality.

“If a person suffers from depression and has to follow treatment then he should have the peace of mind that his job is there waiting for him,” said Dr Gonzi.

Opposition Leader Alfred Sant spoke about the stigma attached to mental health problems.

“This has to be removed as everyone can suffer from mental health problems,” he said.

Prevention services need to be up-to-date with what is going on and there needs to be more emphasis on mental health prevention and education from an early age,” he added.

Dr Sant said the legal structures for people with mental health needed to be improved as Malta was still very far behind. “Mental health is a priority for the Labour Party – our policy reflects today’s reality,” he said.

Dr Deguara said that, according to statistics, a substantial number of the population would suffer from a form of mental illness in the future.

“We have managed to substantially overcome the stigma there is on mental health – it is an illness just like any other,” he said.

Dr Deguara said he would inform EU Commissioner for Health Markos Kyprianou, during a meeting that will be held tomorrow, that Malta was not happy with the progress on the green paper on mental health that Malta had presented.

He went on to say that the Mental Health Act was almost ready and should be approved by the end of this year.

“We need to strengthen the means by which people with mental health illnesses are reintegrated into society and call in the participation of private companies to make this easier,” said Dr Deguara.

Archbishop Cremona spoke about the importance of following Christian values and taking care of people who are weaker.

He also called on people to take care of outside pressure that increases the possibility of mental health problems.