Former Nationalist MP Mario Galea has called for an inquiry into the death of Nicholas Camilleri, who took his own life after battling a mental illness for years.
Camilleri was found dead by one of his sons last week, days after he went missing. His family says the system failed him after he was taken off medication that had kept his condition stable for over 15 years.
In a Facebook post, Galea, who is known for speaking openly about his own mental health issues, said Camilleri’s family needs professional support, not a social media trial.
“I hope there will be an inquiry into the case, not to find some scapegoat but to learn what could have been done differently. So that cases like this one do not happen again.”
Galea said he has been saying for many years that mental illness and suicide has been on the rise. We need to take mental health and suicide prevention seriously, he said.
“In Malta, more people die by suicide than by murder. Suicide and mental health should not be used as a political football. We must work together to help those who are suffering from mental health problems and those who are at risk of suicide.”