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International and Maltese experts at the third annual thematic lecture
The third annual thematic lecture brought together international and Maltese experts to discuss prevention, treatment, care, mental health policy and the importance of protecting human dignity.
A national discussion on mental health
The Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, in collaboration with the House of Representatives, organised its third annual thematic lecture on 29 October 2026 in the Plenary Hall of the Parliament of Malta. This year's lecture focused on "Mental health risks and concerns: strategic goals and best practices for prevention, treatment and care".
The event, hosted by the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, and presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Carmelo Abela, brought together leading international and Maltese experts in psychiatry, primary care, public health and mental health policy.
The lecture provided a forum to examine mental health from clinical, institutional and societal perspectives. The discussions addressed prevention and early intervention, access to treatment, the development of community-based services, the importance of reducing stigma, the relationship between mental and physical health, and the need for public policies that safeguard the rights and dignity of persons experiencing mental health difficulties.
The event attracted considerable interest and was fully booked. Participants included Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries, Chief Executive Officers of public entities, Directors and Heads of Department, senior healthcare professionals, academics, representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil society, and persons occupying senior managerial and decision-making positions.
The broad representation reflected the growing recognition that mental health extends beyond the healthcare sector and requires coordinated responses from public institutions, professionals, families, workplaces and society.
To read the full article and watch the speeches from the event, kindly click here.
Source: Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta
