The Nationalist party has expressed its disappointment towards government’s decision to cut funds for the Richmond Foundation’s 24/7 mental health helpline.

The Malta Independent on Sunday had reported that the €10,000 a month in government funds being granted to the Richmond Foundation’s 24/7 mental health helpline, will be stopped in November. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, government had started giving these funds so that Richmond can run its mental health helpline 24/7. The funds will stop as government will now be providing its own 24/7 mental health helpline, which will replace Richmond’s. 

The PN said that the Richmond Foundation has been providing a help service to people who are considering suicide for the last two and a half years. 

It expressed its disappointment as due to the halt of government funds; Richmond’s service will have to start being provided at limited times and only during the week.

The PN said that the service offered by Richmond should be strengthened, and it appealed to government to continue giving financial aid which is essential for voluntary organisations to continue to operate and give assistance in such delicate situations.

“It is a pity that government saw the expenditure given to a voluntary association as excessive when we know of the good that various voluntary associations such as the Richmond Foundation do,” the PN said.

It said that there is still no information about the new service offered by government, not how it will operate, or how much it will cost.

The PN said that government should have made the change between the services more gradually, where a person is well informed of what to do when they find themselves in moments of need.

The statement was signed by Ian Vassallo and Graziella Galea.