“Mental Health Check-Ups Should Be as Normal as Doctor Visits, Says Lydia Abela at Fort St Elmo Festival”

Lydia Abela, wife of the Prime Minister, has called for mental health check-ups in Malta to become as routine as visits to the doctor. Speaking at the National Conference on Quality of Life and Mental Health, held as part of the Nitkellem Festival at Fort St Elmo, she said children should grow up in a less stressful environment while being equipped with the mental tools to face life’s challenges.

The festival, organised by Abela and the Government of Malta in collaboration with the Richmond Foundation, SOS Malta, Dar Kenn għal Saħħtek, and other partners, included workshops, discussions, and cultural performances. Hundreds of attendees took the opportunity to speak with mental health professionals.

Abela highlighted that mental health affects everyone and should be seen not just as a medical issue, but as a way of life. She also warned about excessive social media use among children, which can contribute to anxiety, depression, and isolation.

The event conveyed a clear message: speaking up is the first step, and there is always someone ready to listen. “I am proud to be Maltese, because we are a people who come together to offer solidarity,” Abela concluded.

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