Mental Health problems and mental illness may occur at any age and affect anyone irrespective of gender, race, colour and social status.

“Unfortunately lack of knowledge often leads to speculation and false beliefs which tend to fuel stigma.” To counteract this, the Office of the Commissioner for Mental Health and the University of Malta’s Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences,, are launching a campaign to increase awareness and better inform the public, thereby counteracting the stigma related to mental health – #StopStigma.

The concept of this campaign originated from a Faculty of Health Sciences student-based project as part fulfilment of the Bachelor’s Degree in Mental Health Nursing, during which students designed a set of posters to enhance awareness about mental health.

The launch of the #StopStigma campaign will present a selection of these posters. Additional information on misconceptions about mental health which foster stigma will be addressed with the presentation of an information leaflet in Maltese ‘10 Ideat zbaljati dwar is-sahha mentali li int tista’ tghinna nwarrbu!’. This was adapted in from material produced for the international mental health campaign “Each Of Us” initiated by Mental Health Europe.

The University said that, subsequently, a number of Maltese personalities will be invited to join this campaign and act as ‘Ambassadors’ to promote mental health and wellbeing with public appearances and speeches.

It added that also local companies and other entities will be invited to act as strategic partner in promoting the aims of the campaign: among their employees/clients/residents/service users and via their communication channels and social media; by encouraging the development of a ‘mental health policy’ at their work-place; by coming up with innovative and creative ways of how to promote the campaign and/or the mental wellbeing of their staff and society at large.

When publicly endorsing and promoting #StopStigma, collaborating entities and individuals shall be awarded certificates of participation during a public event towards the end of 2018. www.facebook.com/mentalhealthisimportantmalta/

Photo shows Flora Tanti, mental health nursing student & service user, addressing participants sitting l to r: new graduate psychiatric nurse, Christy Compton, Commissioner for Mental Health Dr Cachia, Dr Scerri, Dean Prof. Xuereb, Pro-Rector Prof. Baldacchino

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