There is something fundamentally wrong with a system that recognises the importance of protecting employees from physical injuries but does not place the same emphasis on protecting their mental wellbeing. If the government is serious about making mental health a priority, it should waste little time in considering the introduction of mandatory mental health first aid training in workplaces.

In her article in The Malta Independent on Sunday, former Labour MP Katya De Giovanni makes a compelling argument for bringing mental health first aid on the same legal footing as physical first aid. It is an idea that deserves more than polite acknowledgement. It should be examined, discussed and, ideally, implemented.

Since 2002, employers in Malta have been required to ensure that sufficient trained first aiders are available to assist employees who suffer injuries or become ill at work. We have accepted, quite rightly, that accidents happen and that having somebody capable of responding promptly can make a significant difference.

Yet mental health remains largely outside this framework. An employee who cuts their hand badly at work can reasonably expect somebody nearby to know what to do. An employee who is experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional distress or a personal crisis may find that there is no one equipped to offer even the most basic support.

That is a glaring inconsistency.

People do not leave their personal problems at the office door when they arrive for work. Relationships break down, family members become ill, financial pressures mount and bereavements occur. Employees are human beings, not machines that can be switched on when the working day begins and switched off when they leave.

Sometimes, these difficulties become overwhelming. They can affect concentration, productivity, relationships with colleagues and, in more serious cases, a person's ability to cope with everyday life.

In many workplaces, employees are fortunate enough to have colleagues who notice when something is wrong. A sympathetic conversation, a willingness to listen or simply showing concern can be invaluable. But this depends on the people around them. It is informal, inconsistent and, in some instances, entirely absent.

Support should not depend on whether an employee happens to work alongside somebody who is particularly compassionate or perceptive.

This is precisely why a properly organised system makes sense. Mental health first aiders would not be expected to diagnose conditions, provide therapy or replace professional services. Their role would be to recognise warning signs, listen without judgement, assess whether there is an immediate risk, and guide the person towards appropriate professional assistance.

We are not suggesting that every employer should become a mental health clinic, nor that colleagues should assume responsibilities for which they are not qualified. The purpose is to create an initial point of support, a bridge between someone struggling and the professional help they may need.

Some steps in the right direction have been taken. The availability of Mental Health First Aid courses through local councils, with the cost covered by the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, is a welcome initiative. The work undertaken by the Richmond Foundation has also provided Malta with the necessary expertise.

But if physical first aid is considered sufficiently important to warrant a legal obligation, there is little reason why mental health first aid should remain a matter of goodwill or personal initiative.

The government should look into this quickly. It should consult employers, unions, mental health professionals and organisations already providing such training to determine how the system could be introduced effectively. Requirements could be proportionate to the size and nature of each workplace, with adequate training, refresher courses and safeguards to protect employees' privacy.

Mental health cannot continue to be treated as a subject that governments enthusiastically discuss but address inconsistently.

The mind deserves the same consideration as the body. If the government genuinely believes that mental health matters, it should translate that belief into a practical obligation.

Because when someone is struggling, knowing that there is a trained person nearby could make all the difference.