History of MHA Malta

Mental Health Association Malta

The Mental Health Association of Malta (MHAM) has been set up in 1982 by Professor Abram Galea, some Mount Carmel Hospital Staff and other individuals, in order to help the families of persons suffering from mental ill health. At that time, it was known as the Schizophrenia Association but in 1998 the association’s name was changed to cater for various types of mental ill health.

The main aims of the MHAM are to educate the family members in how to cope with a family member suffering from mental ill health, apart from raising awareness on mental ill health in order to reduce the stigma surrounding these types of illnesses.

Thus, the Association organise several support groups for carers where the latter can share experiences and provide help to each other. The Association also organise a series of psycho-educational lectures where professionals in the field of mental health impart knowledge about mental illness to the relatives of the mentally ill.

The Association has also published and distributed three books about mental illness in the family to primary school children aged 6 to 9 years apart from organising a national conference on mental ill health in early 2009.

In September 2010 the Mental Health Association Gozo was set up during a regional conference.This conference was organised with the collaboration of the Ministry for Gozo and Eco Gozo.

The MHAM is is a member of; EUFAMI (European Federation for Families of the Mentally Ill) and its vice-president is a Board member, FRA (Agency for fundamental Rights) MHN (Malta Health Network).

Affiliated with us: St. Jeanne Antide Foundation