A major problem facing the elderly in St Julian's is solitude, a survey by the Parish and Caritas revealed.

The St Julian's Parish is the first Parish to take part in a Caritas co-run report, alongside the Parish, relating to issues in that particular area.

The report focussed on issues affecting families in the area. The St Julian's Parish was the first to accept and participate in the pilot programme.

In 2014 Caritas Malta Diaconia Unit prepared a questionnaire for use at a national and local level, with the twin aims of monitoring changing social reality in the parishes of Malta and strengthening the connection between people and the Church.

200 households in St Julian's were contacted for interviews, with just over a 100 families agreeing to be interviewed.

Of those who accepted the interview, it became apparent that the main problems faced by adolescents related to independence, school problems, bullying, psychological problems, self-esteem, substance abuse and issues relating to sexuality. "Few people noticed dependency on computer games (long hours) and types of games (often including violence), others realised that online social networks such as Facebook, affected their personal communication with others and with their family: with adolescents unable to distinguish between the real and the virtual life".

Another issue highlighted through the survey relates to separation and divorce. "During the interviews we met some people who were separated or already divorced. One had obtained an annulment. Apart from the personal story, separation is always a trauma. The interviewees declared that they found difficulties in re-starting a life especially when there were children involved".

"For children whose parents were separated or divorced the greatest emotional suffering arose from conflict between their parents. Inappropriate use of the social media that keeps individuals away from family reality together with money problems and betrayal are the main causes of the end of a marriage or relationship. The interviewees declared that more support, moral and practical, would be welcome because one of the consequences is solitude and social exclusion".

Poverty is not only an economic issue

Some interviewees declared that poverty was not only an economic issue, even if it resulted from a lack of finance - but also arose from a combination of other realities. These included lack of education giving rise to lack of competency and skills and consequently job opportunities/careers. Many people only had primary school education, some were illiterate and declared that they had started work at a young age with the majority getting unskilled jobs. This reality created a situation in which individuals had a low self-esteem, preventing them from improving in their careers and acquiring a better quality of life.

A small number of interviewees also declared that they are not able to write or read in Maltese or English. "This affected the possibility of acquiring a stable economic life".

A lack of pension and/or a low pension could also be a cause of poverty, the report read. "Some interviewees, especially widows, declared that with their pension they could just about meet their basic needs but were not able to finance other needs such as more medicine, support, helpers, cleaners, maintenance and personal care".

To the question: 'Do you feel discriminated against?' many interviewees answered 'yes.

Discrimination was due to a number of factors, including nationality, gender orientation, disability, religious beliefs and child discrimination where a few interviewees declared that some children suffered discrimination because of poverty or disability," the report read.

With regards to perceptions of the Parish the survey found that, in general, people have a positive opinion and benefit from the services and activities organised by the parish priest. 91 declared that they were Catholic. Some of them requested more services at home, such as a visit by the parish priest, and more access to the Sacrament of Confession.