Awareness about mental health issues is increasing but even so, there’s a long way to go to overcome the many misconceptions, fears and bias people have about mental health, and the stigma these attitudes create, a Health Department news conference was told yesterday

The Mental Health Services of the Health Department have issued a set of informative leaflets to help lessen misconceptions on certain mental health conditions. The Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care, Mario Galea, launched the leaflets at the press conference at Mount Carmel hospital.

The leaflets, which deal with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, addictions, eating disorders, schizophrenia and mental health in general, are meant to address a number of misconceptions that generate stigma against mentally ill patients.

“Stigma is a real problem for people who have a mental illness. Stigma based on stereotypes is a negative judgment based on a personal trait, in this case, having a mental health condition. It used to be a common perception that having a mental illness was due to some kind of personal weakness. We now know that mental health disorders have a biological basis and can be treated like any other health condition. Unfortunately only 29 per cent of sufferers seek help,” said Mr Galea.

He encouraged people who think they might be suffering from mental health conditions, to seek professional help. Any general practitioner would be able help the patient but a psychiatrist would be able to help the individual better.

Mr Galea pointed out that one per cent of the population suffers from schizophrenia. One of every six men and one of every four women suffers from depression. In Malta, 33,000 people fall victim to depression yearly and studies show that eight per cent of the population suffer from some sort of mental health condition at some point in their lives. A suicide is committed every nine minutes in Europe, adding up to 54,000 suicides in 2009. The EU estimates that mental health problems will become the second most common health problem after cardiovascular diseases in a few years’ time.

Thanks to improvements in mental health services 12,000 patients are receiving treatment in the community without having to be hospitalised.

“Nothing guarantees that one wouldn’t fall victim of a mental health problem and there is no health without good mental health,” concluded Mr Galea.

The leaflets will be distributed during mass activities, in community centres, health centres and local councils.