Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544603
6 COMMERCIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 APRIL 2026 Awareness event on mental wellbeing and suicide prevention to take place in Malta ROUND Table Malta 3 and 41 Club Melita will host an aware- ness and action event in aid of Victim Support Malta on 5 May at the Hilton Malta, focusing on mental wellbeing and suicide prevention with particular refer- ence to men. Titled "Pay it For- ward: Lend Your Voice So Oth- ers Can Find Theirs", the event will feature lived-experience testimonies, expert insight and a facilitated discussion led by Victim Support Malta Director Joanne Vella, addressing local challenges, stigma and pathways to support. The session will al- so provide practical guidance on recognising signs of distress and responding effectively. Pro- ceeds from the €20 event will support Victim Support Malta's SPOT services for victims and survivors. The event runs from 19:00 to 21:00 and registration is available online. Event brief Round Table Malta 3 and 41 Club Melita will be hosting an event in aid of Victim Support Malta, an awareness and action event to support mental well- being and suicide prevention across Malta, with special ref- erence to men. The event will feature lived-experience testi- monies, expert speakers, open discussions and information on local resources and support ser- vices. Proceeds and donations will benefit Victim Support Mal- ta. Event highlights Personal stories from people with lived experience: - Shaun Desira - Matthew Mercieca (aka Muxu) - Wtr Able Seaman 1st Class Daniel Thornton (Royal Navy) Brief presentation on the local suicide-prevention landscape Facilitated open discussion by Victim Support Malta Director, Joanne Vella, to identify local barriers and solutions Awareness on crisis signs and giving supportive first responses Purpose The event aims to reduce stigma, increase awareness of help-seeking pathways, and mo- bilise community action to pre- vent suicide in Malta. Attendees will leave better informed to rec- ognise key stress signals, and op- portunities to commit to share steps to support others. Details Event title: "Pay it Forward: Lend Your Voice So Others Can Find Theirs" Date: 05th May 2026 Time: 19:00-21:00 Duration: 2 hours Location: Luzzu Meeting Rooms, Hilton Malta Mediator trained in sui- cide-safe conversation: Joanne Vella - VSM Director Event registration link: h t t p s : / / d o c s . g o o g l e . c o m / f o r m s / d / 1 v k Q K p s U o L a h G - h a 7 Z j Q I u c X 9 p Q e f 5 3 x n i r d _ dS2ik0w8/edit#responses Event fee: Eur20 per person (including refreshments) Organising Sponsors: 41 Club Melita and Round Table Malta 3 - 41 Club Melita: https:// www.facebook.com/41Club- Melita - Round Table Malta 3: https://www.facebook.com/ rt3malta Supporting Sponsors: Hilton - Malta Media and contact: Ju- lian Muscat - muscatjulian@ gmail.com & rtmalta3@gmail. com - 79252326 Website/FB event: https:// w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / events/2004112527652833/ About Victim Support Malta Victim Support Malta pro- vides practical and emotional support to victims and survi- vors of crime and traumatic events. The organisation also works to raise awareness and build safer, more supportive communities. Proceeds and donations from the event will support Victim Support Malta's SPOT services for victims and survivors. Read more here: https://victimsup- port.org.mt/spot/. Melita sets industry benchmark for rapid support and customer satisfaction MELITA Limited has emerged as the industry leader for cus- tomer service efficiency and reliability, according to the latest Malta Communications Authority (MCA) End-User Half Yearly Report. The report highlights Melita's superior performance in accessibility, with the company successfully answering 95% of all incom- ing customer calls within just two minutes. This achievement confirms Melita as leading in customer care in Malta, signif- icantly outperforming competi- tors in response speed. Beyond rapid response times, the MCA data reveals that Mel- ita maintains the lowest com- plaint rate among Malta's three internet and mobile service pro- viders, accounting for only 8% of the total. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of Melita's Customer Guarantees and its commitment to resolving issues quickly and effectively. In addition to its rapid response times, Melita's multilingual chat service gives customers the op- tion of 15 different languages. These results reflect Melita's ongoing investment in AI Assis- tants and technology designed to provide quicker, higher-qual- ity responses across all support channels. Kevin Borg, Head of Customer Operations & AI Deployment at Melita, said: "At Melita, we are committed to making sure every customer feels heard and supported, regardless of their preferred language. This en- hancement, together with con- tinuous innovations like our AI Assistants, ensures that our service is fast, efficient and in- clusive". For more information on Mel- ita's service standards, visit Our Guarantees | Melita Malta Changes to Equity Sharing Scheme widen access for first- time buyers through APS Bank APS Bank announced enhance- ments to the Equity Sharing Scheme, in collaboration with the Housing Authority and the Government. The update follows a joint review aimed at ensuring the scheme remains effective in addressing current housing af- fordability challenges and evolv- ing customer needs. As part of the latest enhance- ments, eligibility for the Equity Sharing Scheme will be extended to individuals aged 25 and over, broadening access to younger ap- plicants, while the maximum eli- gible property value will increase from €250,000 to €350,000 in cer- tain cases. Launched in 2019, the scheme supports individuals and families in purchasing their first home by allowing a portion of the property cost to be co-funded by the Housing Authority, reducing the amount that needs to be fi- nanced through a home loan and making ownership more accessi- ble. Since its inception, the scheme has supported a significant num- ber of families in achieving home ownership, underlining its social impact and continued relevance. APS Bank Product Portfolio Manager Denise Azzopardi said: "The Equity Sharing Scheme con- tinues to play an important role in helping first-time buyers turn their plans into reality. These en- hancements will make it easier for more people to access the support they need, especially at a time when affordability remains a key concern, enabling more individu- als and families to take a confident step towards owning their home." For more information, visit aps- bank.com.mt/home-loan-pack- ages/#social-schemes.