New Mental Health Community Services Launched For Gozo Residents
Mental health support in Gozo just got a major boost, with the launch of new community-based services aimed at making care more accessible and less hospital-dependent.
Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela announced the initiative as part of Malta’s Vision 2050 and the national mental health strategy, which prioritises treatment within the community wherever possible.
“Providing care in the community is a key part of our long-term mental health vision,” Abela said, adding that community mental health teams have already been set up across Malta — and now, Gozo finally has its own.
The new Gozo-based community outreach team has been made possible through the recruitment of four new nurses within the island’s Psychiatric Outpatients Department.
Currently, the department supports around 1,400 Gozitan patients, 23 of whom are under Community Treatment Orders — meaning they receive treatment without being hospitalised.
“This is an important day,because Gozo now has a dedicated team for community mental health care,” Abela said. “It’s a crucial service, and one we recognised was missing. I want to thank the professionals behind it — their work will make a real difference for Gozitan patients.”
Dr Anton Grech, Clinical Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, also welcomed the move, saying: “Research shows that the more mental health services are delivered within the community, the more positive the outcomes. Today we’ve taken an important step by bringing these services to Gozo itself.”
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