Up to 140 persons admitted to hospital for self-harming

MP and psychiatrist Joe Cassar says between 100 and 140 persons are admitted to hospital every year for self-harming

Up to 140 persons are submitted to hospital for self-harming every year
Up to 140 persons are submitted to hospital for self-harming every year

Although the number of persons admitted to hospital for self-harming in Malta is below the EU average, between 100 and 140 persons are admitted to hospital every year.

One week after American actor Robin Williams’ suicide sent shockwaves around the world, Monday’s edition of Reporter addressed the sensitive issue of mental health and depression.

‎Psychotherapist Mariella Dimech said that wealth and success do not automatically translate into happiness, adding that persons can easily mask their unhappiness.

“No one, especially those under the media spotlight, is seen in total. The majority of people are not aware of a victim’s personal life, and the whole picture is only seen upon one’s death. Everyone is vulnerable.”

She added that victims could suffer from further problems, such as alcoholism. “Depression is genetic and based on one’s life circumstances. It is thus imperative that victims are given support,” she underlined.

While it is widely agreed that awareness alleviates the possibility of depression, psychiatrist and MP Joe Cassar explained that self-harming, as well as alcohol and drug abuse, are various indicators of depression.

Explaining that between 100 and 140 people are admitted to hospital due to self-harming, Cassar argued that despite being much lower than the EU average, the rate of self-harming is still alarming.

“Depression is not the only thing which can lead a person to commit suicide. Being emarginated from society, or feeling superhuman, and most notably alcohol and drug abuse may lead someone to commit suicide,” Cassar explained.

Moreover, Cassar explained that youths aged between 20-29 years old tend to commit the most suicide attempts – which according to Cassar is influenced by a youth’s inability to address his problems except by drugs.

This was seconded by Dimech who added that “a youth’s life must not be solely focused on school only, but conversely, it must vary and also include pleasure to ensure that youths do not enter the adult world at a tender age.”

 On his part, Xarabank host Peppi Azzopardi said that sharing one’s problems is also fundamental in creating awareness about depression. “It is a good thing for media personnel to share their psychiatric problems and their battle with depression on air as this creates greater awareness.”

“One need not be ashamed of seeking psychological help. I have visited a psychiatrist and that is nothing to be ashamed of,” Azzopardi explained.