Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1390367
6 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 JULY 2021 Do you want to further your studies at MQF Level 7? Applications open between 14 June and 9 July 2021 until noon local time Visit myscholarship.gov.mt for more details. Scholarships Unit Ministry for Education Freephone: 153 visit www.myscholarship.gov.mt for further information OperaŸonal Programme II - European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "InvesŸng in human capital to create more opportuniŸes and promote the well-being of society" Project part-financed by the European Social Fund Co-financing rate: 80% European Union; 20% NaŸonal Funds Pandemic led to fewer Ombudsman complaints 162 persons died by suicide over the past seven years, of whom 131 were men. Statistics published by the Ministry for Home Affairs give a yearly breakdown of all persons who died by suicide between January 2015 and June 2021. Seven women and 29 men killed themselves in 2015, while the suicide rate dipped in the fol- lowing year to three women and 18 men. In 2017, five women and 20 men died by su- icide. Three women and 19 men killed them- selves the year after. While 2019 saw two women and 19 men die through suicide, the 2020 statistics indicate that seven women and 15 men killed themselves throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This year alone has already seen four women and 11 men kill themselves. The statistics were provided in response to a parliamentary question posed by Nationalist MP Claudette Buttigieg. Anybody needing information about mental health or wanting to talk to someone about an- ything on their mind can use the free-of-charge service offered by SOS Malta on the website kellimni.com or alternatively call 179. Eight out of ten suicide victims are men NICOLE MEILAK THE Office of the Ombuds- man handled 503 cases in 2020, marking a 15% decreases com- pared to the previous year. In its 2020 Annual Report pub- lished on Tuesday, the Parlia- mentary Ombudsman handled 245 of total cases brought in 2020, while the Commissioner for Education presided over 45 cases. The Commissioner for Health dealt with 106 cases, while the Commissioner for Environment and Planning handled 107. In total, 80 sustained cases were closed during 2020. From these, the Ombudsman's recom- mendations were implemented in 45 of these cases. In 18 cases, the recommenda- tion was not implemented. One sustained case is still awaiting an outcome, while 16 other sustained cases saw no recommendation made in the first place. In terms of complaints, the Office handled 498 enquiries in 2020, 7% less when compared to 2019. In the report, the Office suggests that the major cause of this drop is the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the op- erations of the institution. General elections trend The Office of the Ombudsman tends to experience a decline in complaints when an election is approaching. The trend reverses in the first year after a general election is held. This is largely attributed to 'post-election eu- phoria', when more citizens seek direct access to Government for redress. The table below depicts the number of complaints investi- gated by the Office of the Om- budsman in years prior to and after a general election is held. The Office of the Prime Min- ister (OPM) topped the list of ministries that attracted the largest number of complaints. From the 245 cases received by the Ombudsman, 13% or 31 cas- es were against a department or authority which falls under the OPM. The Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law En- forcement attracted the second largest number of complaints re- ceived, with 27 complaints. The Energy Ministry experienced the third largest number of com- plaints, with 20 received from aggrieved citizens. 65% of the complaints received were related to billing issues against ARMS Ltd. Almost half of all complaints were submitted on allegations of lack of fairness or balance. This while in 20% of cases, the ground of complaint was on undue delay or failure to act. By end of 2020, 94 of the cases still. Under investigation stood at 168. From these, 94 cases had been open for over nine months. At 78 cases, the majority of fi- nalised complaints were eventu- ally resolved through informal action. This while 49 cases were deemed to be outside the Om- budsman's jurisdiction. The Ombudsman's Office handled 503 cases in 2020, a 15% decrease compared to the previous year