I, hereundersigned, agree that the topic of mental health is important as there is no health without mental health. 25\% of the European population, including Malta, is at risk of experiencing mental health problems at any point in their life but nevertheless, there is still an appalling stigma on mental health problems.

1. There should be a national strategy on mental health. I understand that depression will be the major condition with highest incidence by 2020. Any strategy should be communicated to people and effectively implemented.

2. The existent mental health legislation is ancient and does not reflect the needs of the current community. The new Mental Health Act needs to be in place in order to promote and protect the fundamental rights of persons with mental health problems in institutions and in the community.

3. Persons with mental health problems experience various difficulties in accessing and remaining in the labour market. Professional support is needed to help individuals with mental health problems succeeding in the labour market. Employment is an important feature for the persons and appropriate and timely support is essential.

4. Persons with mental health problems should be entitled to medicines which are given by the state. So far only persons diagnosed with schizophrenia are entitled to receive such medicine. There are mental health problems that require medical treatment and such treatment is vital and yet they are not entitled to receive such medicines through state assistance.

I agree that this petition, including my personal information, be given to authorities concerned.


Maltese version

Jiena, hawn taħt iffirmat/a, naqbel li s-suġġett tas-saħħa mentali hu importanti ħafna fil-ħajja tal-bniedem u fil-fatt ma hemm l-ebda saħħa mingħajr saħħa mentali. Minkejja li fl-Ewropa, inkluza Malta, kwart tal-popolazzjoni hi friskju li tgħaddi minn problemi ta sahha mentali, ghad hemm stigma fuq dawn il-kundizzjonijiet.

1. Hemm bżonn ta strateġija nazzjonali dwar is-saħħa mentali. Nifhem li d-dipressjoni ser tkun l-iktar kundizzjoni komuni sa l-2020. L-istrategija ma tridx tkun fuq il-karta biss, iżda trid tkun ikkomuniakata man-nies u implimentata bmod effettiv mill-partijiet kollha ikkonċernati.

2. Il-liġi dwar is-saħħa mentali preżenti hi antika u ma tirrifletti xejn il-ħtiġijiet u xejriet moderni tal-lum. Hemm bżonn li tidħol fis-seħħ liġi li tipproteġi u tippromwovi d-drittjiet ta persuni bi problemi ta saħħa mentali kemm fistituzzjonijiet kif ukoll fil-komunita.

3. Persuni bi problemi ta saħħa mentali jsibu ħafna problemi biex jidħlu u jibqgħu fid-dinja tax-xogħol. Dawn il-persuni għandu jkollhom l-għajnuna biex jirnexxu fid-dinja tax-xogħol li hi aspett tant importanti fil-ħajja tal-bniedem. Din l-għajnuna trid tkun professjonali u trid tinghata fħinha u fwaqtha.

4. Persuni bi problemi ta saħħa mentali għandhom id-dritt li jkollhom aċċess għall-medicini mogħtija mill-istat. Sissa persuni bl-iskiżofrenija biss għanhom dan id-dritt. Hemm kundizzjonijiet ta problemi ta saħħa mentali serji fejn il-mediċina hi indispensabbli, madankollu persuni bdawn il-kundizzjonijiet mhumiex intitolati għal-dawn il-medicini moghtija mill-istat.

Jiena qed niffirma u għalhekk qed naqbel li din il-petizzjoni, li tinkludi informazzjoni dwari, tinghata lill-awtoritajiet ikkonċernati.