The Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity has endorsed an initiative by the Malta Association of the Counselling Profession (MACP), which will provide counselling hours by their registered counsellors to be available for callers of 1772 and 179 helplines, operated by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services.

This agreement came into force from Friday, the 24th of April 2020, until the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Details were given at a press conference in the newly refurbished 179 call centre premises in Santa Venera.

Minister Michael Falzon welcomed and praised the counsellors for this voluntary initiative during these difficult periods. He explained that FSWS professionals will be the first point of contact on both support lines, and that through their preliminary assessment they will identify callers who need counselling sessions.

Ryan Portelli, president of the MACP, said that the association will provide a form for helpline professionals to fill in, which would serve as a referral form. They will also provide eight sessions to each service user, and a renewal may be provided should further interventions be required.

Remenda Grech, director of Aġenzija Appoġġ, said that FSWS professionals will register the necessary personal details with the caller’s consent, and then further explain the process of referral and online counselling or telephone counselling to the person being referred.

Once details are provided, the 179/1772 person in charge will go through the details of the person, clarify where necessary with the professional who took the call, and refer the case directly to a counsellor according to the needs of the service user, based upon a list of counsellors and their area of interest as provided by the MACP.