Cannabis dependence has been associated with psychosis, Robin Murray, Professor of the Institute of Psychiatry, London said today.

People who use cannabis are likely to suffer from psychosis six years before others who do not, he told a conference names 'Shaping the future: The mental health of our Nation', at the Radisson Hotel, Ghajn Tuffieha.

Murray said that people take cannabis because of the amount of THC that is present in the type of cannabis they take. He said that because of the euphoric effect that THC leaves on the brain, the individual does not remember what they were thinking about during the moment they were making use of cannabis. He added that modern cannabis is very different from its originating state, as the amount of THC present in current cannabis makes about 50 to 60 per cent of the whole product.

Referring to the current situation in England, Murray said that cannabis is easily accessible because of its availability. He added that unfortunately there are also many false advertisements going on that promote cannabis as a medical product that cures any type of illness, even given the fact that there is little evidence suggesting this.

Another speaker at the conference was Nigel Camilleri President of the Maltese Association of Psychiatry (MAP), who said that during the last two years, the Maltese population has been affected by Covid, not only physically but also mentally.

He said that at present only 30 psychiatrists are working in the mental health sector, adding that present staffing numbers still need to be increased. The number of psychiatrists in our country is six per 100,000, putting Malta at the lowest rung in Europe, when the minimum recommended by the European Union is 10 per psychiatrists per 100,000.

He said that the association has worked on recommendations to tackle the problem of understaffing in the mental health sector. These include the temporarily waiving of two years experience needed by psychiatrists to become consultants, the consideration to issue Staff Grade posts on a locum basis, to fill priority vacancies and an overseas recruitment drive.

Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, WHO,  said that anxiety and depression cases have doubled more than what the numbers were pre-Covid, referring to the whole European Union.

She added that job loss, income instability, reduced earning potential due to lockdowns or restrictions were also some of the main factors as to why there was an increased likelihood of mental health conditions, with vulnerable groups being more susceptible to such difficulties.

When referring to the impacts suffered by individuals, she said that despite the drastic increase in mental health illnesses, there was no evidence for increased risk of suicide. Speaking about all member states, she said that due to Covid, there was an increase in higher alcohol use and a surge in domestic violence.

She said that Covid has highlighted the defects that are present in the Maltese mental health sector. This pandemic has worsened the already low access to mental health care, overburdened health care systems, exacerbated risk factors and demonstrated failures of long-term institutional care and psychiatric hospitals.

In recovering from this period and recognising the failures to improve, there needs to be evidence of what this pandemic has caused to vulnerable groups. First of all, it must be acknowledge that the systems were unprepared for the onslaught.

She said that to improve the mental health sector, European member states need to promote culturally adapted, evidence-based interventions, embed psychological support initiatives in the workplace, address the social deterrents of mental health, increase access to support in schools, universities and communities, promote MHPSS for individuals directly affected by COVID-19, implement emergency guidance for people with disabilities, strengthen MHPSS services for EPRRand safeguard mental health services and scale up person-centred, community-based services, ensure good working conditions for health and social care workers and provide such workers with the necessary psychosocial capacity- building and training.