Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1012451
OPINION maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 AUGUST 2018 8 MENTAL health and behav- ioural problems (depression, anxiety and drug use) are re- ported to be the primary driv- ers of disability worldwide. However, unfortunately, they are not given as much impor- tance as they should by both authorities and citizens alike in our communities. The taboo itself prevents sufferers from seeking the help they need, afraid that they will lose their rights, re- sulting in these people get- ting caught in the system. Al- though in the past year mental health in Malta has gained a lot of momentum with a lot of stories being shared with the public about the struggles people who suffer from men- tal illness deal with, the situ- ation does not seem to have improved. Unfortunately although there are services and help lines these are still unknown to most of the general public and till now mental health is still considered to be a taboo. It is because of this that the National Youth Council (KNZ) has taken it upon him- self to ensure that there is dis- cussion, specifically amongst youths. We have applied for European Erasmus+ funds and now we will be conduct- ing a project about Mental Health and Youth for the next seven months, whereby every month we will be having an event discussing a specific sector in society and its rela- tion to mental health. The sectors will vary from education, work and also the health services which are the primary sectors that impact youth's everyday life. Cur- rently we are conducting a national survey on the knowl- edge that youths; aged be- tween 11 years till 30 years, have with regard to the Men- tal Health situation in Malta in order to be able to cater better with our events for the needs or rather lack of infor- mation there is in each sector. Youths spend most of their time at school, however, it has become evident that school is equipping us with all the tools to succeed in our academic endeavours but nothing to support us when we come to face the life stressors that there are out there. From the survey we are conducting it has become evident that men- tal health in our school is put as a second priority to all the other theoretical subjects. The education sector should be the main tool used to re- move the taboo existing in our societies as it is through the creation of dialogue that we all learn that mental health does not discriminate and should be treated like any other physical illness. In ad- dition, if there is more aware- ness on the various disorders those whose symptoms start earlier could receive help in- stantly as they recognise the illness for what it is and may be prevented from getting lost in the system. Therefore, in one of the ses- sions of this project we will be giving out information to youths with regard to the services provided by schools accompanied also by an in- formation session given by experts on various mental health conditions that exist. Another sector which im- pacts the life of youths is the employment sector. This is essential to all those who would like to give their con- tribution and feel part of so- ciety, whilst it is also of ut- most importance in order to prevent people from ending up in Poverty. Therefore, as a person suffering from a phys- ical illness would be entitled to leave, so should a person who is mentally sick be enti- tled to the same rights with- out prejudice. It is only then that we will truly have an equalist soci- ety whereby people suffering from physical and mental ill- ness will be entitled to the same rights eliminating the discrimination there is. In the questionnaire the majority of the respondents stated that they are not aware of any ben- efits existent for people who suffer from mental health. Therefore, in the session concerning the employment sector we will be learning about the rights of mentally ill people and raise awareness on such rights. Finally, the mental health services will also be discussed including the out-patient services that are offered in most of the localities. In all the events we will be having an information session ac- cording to the topic at hand and the second part would be specific to creating policy and suggestions on ways of im- provements. At the end of the project we will be formulating all the suggestions collected throughout all the events to formulate a policy paper that will be presented to decision makers. Pamela Cann Rodgers is International Officer of the Kunsill Nazzjonali taż- Żgħażagħ The National Youth Council (KNZ) and its member organisations have been invited to submit opinion articles on topics affecting youths today. The contents of the article do not necessarily ref lect the opinion of the Council As a person suffering from a physical illness would be entitled to leave, so should a person who is mentally sick be entitled to the same rights without prejudice Mental health and youths Pamela Cann Rodgers