The Mental Health Association Malta (MHA) has voiced serious concern and disappointment following reports that a patient under the care of Mount Carmel Hospital managed to leave the psychiatric facility unsupervised and was later found with life-threatening injuries.
In a strongly worded statement, the MHA emphasised that this incident is not isolated, but part of a troubling pattern of systemic negligence, including repeated warnings about patient safety, staff shortages, and inadequate infrastructure that have gone unaddressed.
“These incidents are not simply unfortunate they are preventable,” the association said, highlighting what it described as a failure to uphold basic responsibilities toward vulnerable individuals in care.
The MHA reaffirmed its position that patient safety is a fundamental right, not just a priority, and criticised the current system for placing undue strain on frontline staff without addressing structural issues.
While expressing solidarity with the patient and their family, the association also warned against using such incidents as justification to impose restrictive measures on other residents, noting that safety and dignity must go hand in hand in rights-based mental health care.
The MHA has called for the following urgent actions:
An independent and transparent investigation to determine what went wrong and who is accountable.
Immediate investment in staffing, supervision, and infrastructure to improve safety across all psychiatric wards.
Public communication of inquiry outcomes and corrective steps.
A fast-tracked reform plan that moves away from outdated models and toward community-based, recovery-focused services.
The association urged authorities to stop viewing each event in isolation and to instead address the clear pattern of systemic failings within Malta’s mental health system.
“Mental health care cannot continue to operate in emergency mode,” the statement concluded. “We need long-term, rights-driven solutions that uphold dignity, safety, and accountability.”
For families and individuals engaged in mental health services, MHA pledged continued support, advocacy, and a platform for their voices to be heard.
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Gabriel Falzon is the social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.