‘We’re Not Superheroes’: Maltese Medics Heading To Everest Base Camp For Doctors’ Mental Health
Two Maltese doctors hailing from organisation Mental Health for Medics are embarking on an expedition to Everest Base Camp soon – all to raise awareness on doctors’ mental health.
Doctors and medical students worldwide have high rates of burnout and mental health problems, and Malta is certainly not an exception.
Although not many studies exist, there is evidence to show that doctors working in Malta have higher rates of psychological distress (Harney and Abela, 2022) and higher rates of burnout than international doctors (Grech and Grech, 2021).
Unfortunately, there is a huge stigma associated with medical professionals seeking help, which leads to many doctors suffering in silence. Some have even lost their lives to suicide.
“I am Nicole Borg, and I run Mental Health of Medics. Together with my colleague Marija Agius Spiteri (an ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon), we will be flying to Nepal on 8th September,” Nicole told Lovin Malta.
“Between 9th and 23rd September, we will trek to an altitude of 5,364 metres to Everest Base Camp in order to shed light on the topic of mental health problems amongst medical professionals in Malta.”
It will take Nicole and Marija around nine days to climb up to Everest Base Camp, and around another four days to descend.
“Neither myself nor Marija have ever done anything of this magnitude before, but we have been training regularly and feel both prepared (for the most part) and determined.”
“We are not collecting any funds and the main goal is to raise awareness. The public can support us by following our journey on social media and promoting our cause.”
“If you’re not a doctor yourself, you either have one, know one or love one. Ask them how they are or how their day was once in a while.”
“We’re not superheroes, you know. You might even end up saving our life.”
If you’re in need of help, Malta’s National Helpline is available on a 24/7 basis – just call 179. If you would rather speak to someone online, check out Kellimni.com here.
Tag someone who needs to know about this initiative
READ NEXT: Watch: ‘Christian Was Killed And Destroyed By Someone, Just As One Crushes A Daffodil’
