The Commissioner for Mental Health has welcomed the initiative taken by a patient to speak up about mental health issues, saying that changes are needed to improve the situation.
The setting up of the Office of the Commissioner within the remit of the Mental Health Act was specifically targeted towards safeguarding the rights of persons with mental health problems and their caring others, Commissioner John Cachia said in a statement.
Our work over the past years has been two-fold – raising awareness of mental health and well-being and empowering patients to join forces with us, fight stigma and discrimination and draw the attention that mental health services had to move and upgrade in line with 21st Century practices.
“This week a write-up by a patient who shared her experience as an inpatient in Mount Carmel Hospital on the media was reported by many news agencies. This was regrettably similar to many other patients’ views that reach my office through direct interviews, emails, phone calls, letters and social media.
“I am glad that finally patients are finding the courage and speaking up too. Their first-hand experience is in line and reflects the findings that my Office has been reporting for the past 6 years. We have consistently made recommendations and contributed constructively to the necessary changes,” he said.
We are aware that Mount Carmel Hospital is the only specialised hospital to meet the needs of persons requiring mental health professional services. Despite loads of criticism, one cannot but acknowledge that professionals give their utmost and lengths of stay in hospital are nowadays considerably shorter – “as mentioned also in my reports”, Cachia added.
“The hospital environment is far from desirable and I have also repeatedly highlighted a number of practices which are still occurring at Mount Carmel Hospital which fall short of respecting patient rights and dignity. Although I have repeatedly asked Mount Carmel Hospital authorities to upgrade their protocols in matters such as possession of communication devices and searches for safeguarding patient safety, I am still waiting to receive these updated protocols.
“Over the past months there have been several changes with regards to wards and team practices, however it is the responsibility of Mount Carmel Hospital Management to explain this and outline their plans to upgrade practices, facilities and services.
“Patients with mental health problems deserve to receive the care they require in the best and most dignified way. A number of reforms in the mental health sector have been put on a pause for far too long. I appeal to the Health Authorities to realign the work agreed upon in the Mental Health Strategy and proceed with implementation. COVID-19 has admittedly complicated matters further and the future is still uncertain, however the care needs of persons with mental health challenges cannot be put on hold indefinitely,” Cachia said.