Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545950
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 24 JULY 2026 NEWS €2.8 million mental health investment to strengthen services across Malta and Gozo THE Ministry for Health is in- vesting circa €2.8 million over three years for three communi- ty homes operated by the Suret il-Bniedem Foundation, which provides accommodation and support to persons with mental health challenges. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Ian Borg announced this investment dur- ing the signing of an agreement between the National Mental Health Services and the Suret il- Bniedem Foundation, which op- erates Dar Imelda, Dar Franġisk and Dar Victoria. The agreement, signed in recent days, further strengthens the col- laboration between the Govern- ment and the non-governmental organisation to consolidate its services and to support more persons with mental health ser- vices while they continue living within the community, with dig- nity and appropriate care. It is the first Public Social Partnership agreement of its kind to formal- ly regulate this collaboration for the operation of Dar Imelda, Dar Franġisk and Dar Victoria, which together can provide support to 32 residents. Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg explained that this joint initiative between the National Mental Health Services and the Suret il- Bniedem Foundation highlights the importance of collaboration between Government, the private sector, local communities and non-governmental organisations in strengthening mental health services across Malta and Gozo. "This agreement combines Gov- ernment investment with collab- oration with the voluntary sector and will be instrumental in ensur- ing that mental health care in our country continues to evolve and remains effective, while facilitat- ing social inclusion," said Dr Borg. The Chairperson of the Suret il-Bniedem Foundation, Dr Mari- que Sciberras, welcomed the agreement, saying it provides greater certainty that services within these three community homes can continue to improve sustainably over the coming years. "The Suret il-Bniedem Founda- tion, which is run by the Capu- chin Friars, provides accommo- dation for persons with mental health challenges in three of the five homes it operates. Through this agreement, we will contin- ue strengthening a collaboration that has already delivered sig- nificant positive results over the years. Evidence shows that people living with mental health chal- lenges achieve better outcomes when they live in a communi- ty-based environment that meets their needs, and this agreement will enable us to build on work that has been ongoing for a num- ber of years," said Dr Sciberras. In addition to the Ministry for Health's financial support, the new agreement establishes a clear framework for the funding and governance of the Founda- tion's services, while strengthen- ing continuity, transparency and accountability in the provision of long-term residential care for persons requiring ongoing sup- port in these three homes. It will also help ensure that these servic- es continue to be delivered to the highest quality standards, while fully respecting the dignity of every individual. his joint initiative between the National Mental Health Services and the Suret il-Bniedem Foundation highlights the importance of collaboration between Government, the private sector, local communities and non-governmental organisations in strengthening mental health services across Malta and Gozo Momentum proposes National First Aid Campaign to establish life-saving skills across Malta and Gozo MOMENTUM is proposing a comprehensive National First Aid Campaign, calling for the establishment of a nationwide baseline of life-saving capabil- ities. The party is urging health and education authorities to implement a structured frame- work ensuring that citizens are fully equipped to respond to medical emergencies. Momentum is proposing to make first aid training compul- sory for several segments of the population, focusing on build- ing community resilience and improving survival rates for time-critical emergencies. This is achieved by first em- bedding basic first aid training into the secondary school cur- riculum. A basic first aid syl- labus is currently covered by some students who have taken up PE option, and would now be taught to all secondary stu- dents. Furthermore, Momentum asks whether linking first aid certification to the acquisition of the driving licence could cre- ate a network of safety on our roads. Would such an initiative give you the peace of mind that if your family ever needs ur- gent medical help, the drivers around them will be able to provide immediate, life-saving assistance at the scene of an ac- cident? With standard courses costing between forty and eighty-five euros per person, the cost bar- riers can be minimised through government and EU-funded programmes, bulk bookings for educational institutions, and tax credits for compliant em- ployers. The national campaign would expand beyond physical trau- ma to integrate mental first aid course content into the stand- ard training modules. Momentum General Secretary Mark Camilleri Gambin stated: "It was recently proven that na- tionwide education campaigns are entirely achievable with the rollout of the basic AI training linked to the free AI subscrip- tion. This rollout proved that if we set our minds to a goal, we have the administrative capac- ity to deliver training to many citizens. Now, we need to apply bigger determination to some- thing even more critical. While digital literacy is valuable, first aid training is far more impor- tant because it directly saves lives. The minutes before pro- fessional medical help arrives are absolutely vital." Beyond the primary goal of saving lives, individuals trained in first aid provide significant broader benefits to the com- munity as trained citizens gain the psychological confidence needed to handle sudden do- mestic or public emergencies calmly. Early, effective intervention also reduces the severity of injuries before professional medical care arrives, ultimate- ly lowering long-term national healthcare expenditure. In its statement, Momentum said the tragedies underlined the need for a nationwide baseline of life-saving capabilities (Photo: File photo)