Many years of listening to people's voices as part of my job has sensitized me to the unnoticed pain they withstand as they battle life.

My last published newspaper article a few years back, entitled 'Walking with invisible heroes', talks about this invisible suffering.

With an election round the corner and with my heart having been for so long in the political arena, I cannot sit back.

For more than a decade I accompanied my husband on his political journey, a journey that saw us meet many people and share with them the joys and pains in their life. Although that political journey had to be paused for the greater good of the political party he gave his life for, my heart remains with all the people I met in that time.

To my children, I recount days from my childhood where it was unsafe to speak up for what you believed in. My family was often a target of political hatred and I recollect the fear I used to experience. That fear somehow resurfaced only of recent. I do not blame the younger generation for not understanding this.

I felt safe in my own country for the greater part of my children's upbringing and taught them to trust in the good faith of humanity.

They have grown up believing and trusting in the goodness of mankind.

Where has it all gone?

I have touched pain and badness with my own bare hands.

Good and evil co-exist as part of humanity. They take many shapes and forms and sometimes we are too naive, or too good to recognize the bad from the good. We keep believing in the goodness of humanity.

There is nothing more beautiful than connecting with a good soul. Yes, a good soul shines through and trust me, there are many good souls in this world.

There are genuine people who believe in good and know good when they see it. I happen to live with the kindest and gentlest of souls and I have met and kept many kind and gentle souls in my circle of life.

I urge you to seek them out in your lives and to keep them there as part of your human treasures.

I am not a political person and cherish my life as a private citizen.

There are silent sufferers who yearn for a free democracy where political bullying stops in its subtlest of forms. These are the silent sufferers for democracy. There are many on our beautiful Malta who yearn to find their voices back.

I tell you, my heart is with you all. Do the right thing, follow your heart.

Dr Cassar, a clinical psychologist, is the wife of former Health Minister Joe Cassar