Lydia Abela Says Mental Health Check-Ups Should Be Normalised

Lydia Abela, the wife of Prime Minister Robert Abela, said that she wants Malta to normalise the concept of mental health check-ups.

“Having a mental health check-up should be as normal as going for a visit to your doctor. To change a culture, we must start with children,” Abela said during a national conference on quality of life and mental health at Fort St Elmo.

She went on to warn that social media addiction has become a real issue that must be addressed with a sense of responsibility.

The conference was part of the Nitkellem festival, which was organised by Lydia Abela and the Government of Malta in collaboration with the Richmond Foundation, SOS Malta, Dar Kenn għal Saħħtek, actress Simone Spiteri, and ultra-endurance swimmer Neil Agius.

Also taking part were the Ministry for Health, Special Olympics Malta, Teatru Malta, Kelma Kelma Nota Nota, as well as several mental health experts and activists.