Agenzija Sapport’s Carnival Project For Persons With Disabilities

Feb 13 2025

Aġenzija Sapport, through its Day Centres, is preparing a special project for this year’s Carnival, which includes a dance performance and a float themed “This is Me.”

This project not only provides an artistic expression space for people with disabilities but also highlights the importance of inclusion in society through Maltese culture and traditional celebrations.

For the first time, people with disabilities are professionally working on a Carnival float, marking a significant step towards greater participation and visibility within the community.

Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia visited the preparations for this project, alongside the CEO of Aġenzija Sapport, Oliver Scicluna.

The Carnival project this year includes a unique dance coordinated by the Ħal Far Day Centre, featuring 16 participants with disabilities and 10 staff members, including individuals using wheelchairs.

The performance will also incorporate Maltese Sign Language to convey important messages of inclusion and personal expression.

Meanwhile, over 30 participants from the agency’s other 10 centres are working on the Carnival float, which is being constructed at a warehouse in Floriana.

Costumes and props are being prepared by about 40 participants, using recycled materials. The float will be presented for the first time at this year’s Carnival.

Minister Farrugia emphasised the value of such projects in fostering creative expression, skill development, and active participation in national cultural events.

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PN MP Raises Concerns Over Impact Of Screen Time On Youth Mental Health

Feb 13 2025

PN MEP Peter Agius drew attention to the challenges many parents are facing regarding youth and mental health.

The discussion highlighted the struggles of his three teenagers, who deal with challenges that previous generations never encountered. “Is this a digital skill or an addiction?” Aguis asked.

Agius stressed that there is no clear line between healthy technology use and overuse, noting that parents often don’t know when their children’s screen time becomes excessive. Agius said that research has shown a clear link between excessive screen time and depression in young people.

“Technology is replacing human connection,” MEP Peter Agius stated.

Agius questioned whether there should be warning labels on apps and websites, much like the ones found on cigarette packs, in order to raise awareness about the potential dangers of excessive screen time.

PN MEP Peter Agius’s intervention underscored the urgent need for a conversation on how digital consumption affects youth mental health.

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Mount Carmel Patients Dropped From 580 In 2014 To 250 Today

Feb 13 2025

A two-day National Workshop, organised in collaboration with the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing and the World Health Organisation (WHO), is bringing together key stakeholders from the health sector and beyond to discuss The Future of Mental Health Care.

This event is part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s initiative aimed at addressing mental health challenges across the EU, Iceland, and Norway, funded by the EU.

The workshop’s primary goal is to explore opportunities to improve mental health care and discuss its integration into general health services.

Participants will engage in discussions on best practices and the future direction of mental health care.

During his address, Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela outlined the progress made in Malta’s mental health care.

He noted a significant reduction in patients at Monte Karmeli Hospital, from 580 in 2014 to just 250 today. He also highlighted a doubling of psychiatric consultants from 12 to 24 over the same period.

The Minister commended efforts to transition psychiatric care into the community, the launch of helpline 1579, and the initiatives by the Home Crisis Resolution team.

He emphasised the importance of supporting employees’ mental health and assured the government’s ongoing commitment to making further improvements in this vital area.

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Government Discussing Proposals To For Maltese Families To Have More Kids

Feb 13 2025

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has proposed a new tax rate to incentivise families to have more than one child, aiming to address Malta’s declining birth rate and its demographic challenges.

In a recent Parliament speech, Caruana emphasised the need for drastic measures to alter Malta’s population trajectory, warning that current efforts, such as increasing the children’s allowance by €250 a year, are insufficient.

Caruana stressed that while such allowances help families raise children, they do not incentivise having more.

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To address this, he suggested introducing a new tax band for families with multiple children, in addition to the existing single, married, and parent rates.

This new system would provide families with thousands of euros in tax relief each year for having more than one child, offering substantial financial support to encourage larger families.

The minister highlighted that such measures are necessary to ensure Malta’s long-term demographic and economic stability, as the country faces an ageing population.

With birth rates on the decline, Caruana urged the government to act swiftly, noting that financial incentives through the tax system could play a critical role in reversing the trend and securing a sustainable future for Malta’s population.

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