‘We can all play our part in increasing awareness about mental health,’ says Vassallo Group Chairperson

World Mental Health Day, celebrated on 10th October annually, provides an opportunity for companies to take a look at what they are doing to help employees deal with hardships and struggles in a sustainable way.

On this day, Vassallo Group Malta Chairperson Natalie Briffa Farrugia took to social media to raise awareness on the fact that “we can all play our part in increasing awareness about mental health and well-being, and World Mental Health Day is the perfect opportunity to do that collectively.”

She quotes the World Health Organisation (WHO) in stating that “stigma and discrimination continue to be a barrier to social inclusion and access to the right care.” Indeed, the theme chosen for World Mental Health Day 2022 is “Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority.”

In July 2019 Malta’s Government launched a report entitled ‘A Mental Health Strategy for Malta 2020 – 2030 which is aimed at “guiding the implementation of investment and reforms which will truly place mental health, and treatment of mental illness, at the heart of the health policy agenda of our country in the years to come.”

The report mentions initiatives such as the “Employee Support Programme for public service employees, and the provision of training in Mental Health First Aid to employers and employees by Richmond Foundation.” Such support programmes are also available within the private sector, as a number of companies have already started to engage the Richmond Foundation to offer free and anonymous mental health support to their employees whenever they need it.

As part of its initiative to raise awareness on mental health, The Malta Chamber Health and Wellness Committee, with the support of Atlas Insurance, also organised an event focusing on “the importance of mental well-being in the workplace while seeking to showcase the perspectives of the various institutions that play a major role in this area.”

World Mental Health Day was first observed by World Federation for Mental Health in 1992 and is now celebrated on 10th October every year.