“AD tesprimi l-qbil tagħha mal-Malta Psychiatric Association li riċentament ikkummentat fuq in-nuqqasijiet fis-servizzi pubbliċi fis-saħħa mentali. AD tisħaq li l-qasam għandu jingħata importanza kbira u ħolistika biex is-servizzi jkunu verament effettivi.” Dan qalitu Anna Azzopardi, kelliema fuq id-djalogu soċjali u l-politika soċjali.
“Kwalita’ ta’ ħajja tajba hija essenzjali ghas-saħħa mentali. Il-Gvern għandu jagħti aktar attenzjoni u riżorsi biex jigu iffaccjati l-kawzi ta’ mard mentali. Il-faqar mhux perċezzjoni. Il-faqar u min per ezempju m’għandux saqaf fuq rasu huma realtajiet li forsi ninsew fil-girja sfrenata għas-suċċess ekonomiku. Iż-żidiet esaġerati fil-prezzijiet tal-propjeta’ u tal-kirjiet partikolarmanet għadhom ma gewx iffaċċjati bis-serjeta’.”
“Il-bini bla rażan f’kull rokna tal-pajjiz qed ifisser zoni urbani aktar u aktar imniġġsa, b’nuqqas ta’ spazji ħodor u spazji miftuħa. Dawn l-ispazji huma neċessarji għas-saħħa mentali tan-nies. Dawk l-aktar affettwati negattivament huma dawk li jgħixu fil-faqar jew f’riskju ta’ faqar. Ikollhom jaħdmu siegħat twal biex jgħixu diċentament, ikollhom anqas ħin liberu u livelli ta’ stress għoljin. Huwa fatt li persuni li jgħixu fil-faqar u f’riskju ta’ faqar għandhom aktar riskju li jsofru minn problemi ta’ saħħa mentali.”
“In-nuqqasijiet fis-servizzi ta’ saħħa mentali ma jistgħux jigu injorati iżjed. Hemm bżonn pjan ħolistiku u fit-tul. Il-professjonisti f’dan il-qasam ħaqqhom aktar sapport, pagi diċenti u taħrig kontinwu. In-nuqqas ta’ investiment pubbliku f’dan il-qasam ifisser li persuni vulnerabbli jispiċċaw mingħajr għajnuna professjonali, b’riskji serji ghas-saħħa mentali tagħhom.”
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Mental Health should be tackled holistically – AD
“AD is in agreement with the Malta Psychiatric Association which recently commented on current deficiencies in mental health services. AD emphasises that mental health needs to urgently be taken more seriously holistically”, said Anna Azzopardi, spokesperson on social dialogue and policy.
“A good quality of life is essential for one’s mental health. Hence, the Maltese government should inject more effort and resources in addressing the root causes of mental illnesses. Poverty is not a perception. It is a reality. In the rush for economic success, poverty and homelessness may sometimes be forgotten. Their causes, such as the current increase in housing and rent prices, have yet to be tackled.”
“The exponential increase in construction is resulting in an ever increasing lack of green and open spaces. These open spaces are crucial for positive mental health: they offer at times the only direct contact with nature. Unfortunately, those most affected by the increasing cost of living and lack of open spaces tend to be those closest to the poverty line. Their need to work longer hours to make ends meet, decreases their leisure time and increases stress. People on the poverty line tend to be more at risk of developing mental health problems.”
“On the other hand, the serious lack in holistic mental health services cannot be ignored. It is important that all professionals working in the sector are properly trained, supported and remunerated. An underfunded system means that a lot of vulnerable people are falling through the cracks with serious consequences on their life.”
