The government’s ‘selfish move’ to cut funds on a mental health helpline operated by Richmond Foundation shows a lack of respect towards the foundation’s employees and robs people needing support of stability they desperately need, an employee who works with the foundation said.
Matthew Paris, who has worked with Richmond Foundation for three years - two of which were on their 24/7 mental health helpline, took to social media to express his disgust at the news that government funding for the helpline would be cut in favour of a new state-run service.
The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed last weekend that government will no longer grant funds to Richmond to be able to run their mental health helpline, which they have been doing on a 24/7 basis for the past three years.
Paris said in a Facebook post that when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, workers at Richmond “were forced to turn their lives upside down,” at government’s request to shift the mental health helpline from a Monday to Friday service, to a 24/7 helpline.
Paris expressed his anger, saying that now that life has returned to normality, “our great leaders have decided that our job is done and they now have the time and leisure to provide this service themselves, using the money that was being used to fund a vital service in our country's mental health sector.”
He said that government is treating Richmond workers as servants it can call in times of need, only to take credit of the service done after they have done all the hard work.
Paris said that there are many people who rely on the helpline, accusing government of robbing people of the stability and support Richmond provided for when people needed it the most.
“Not to mention the lack of respect this selfish move shows towards my colleagues and me and all the great work we've done,” Paris said.
He said that if the new state-run service reflects other services the states provide in the field of mental health, then it is “in for one hell of a ride.”
Paris said that government should reflect on whether this is in fact the right decision.