It’s time to talk about mental wellness at the Maltese workplace

With the backdrop of Malta's burgeoning economy and evolving corporate dynamics, a pressing concern emerges: the mental wellbeing of our workforce. While the island has witnessed rapid progress in various sectors, the dialogue around mental health, especially at the leadership level, remains notably subdued.

The "Hygeia: A Conference on Mental Wellness at the Workplace" seeks to lift the lid, kicking off the often-overlooked topic of mental wellness at the workplace and the related matter of ‘leadership overwhelm’.

Bringing together a diverse group of thought leaders, influencers and experts, the Hygeia conference aims to kickstart a national conversation the local workplace and mental wellness, giving it the importance it deserves.

It will feature a keynote session by former top UK hostage negotiator Martin Richards, whose three decades in the UK Metropolitan Police taught him valuable lessons about dealing with stress especially during pivotal decision-making scenarios.

Podcaster Jon Mallia will participate in a panel discussion on Leadership Overwhelm, shedding light on leaders of organisations who often do not realise how much their actions and words impact those around them. Also participating in that discussion will be Julianne Grima, the executive chairperson at Victim Support Malta, Josh O’Cock the CEO at Growth Gurus and Charlotte Sant Portanier, the CEO at Healthmark, one of Malta’s leading healthcare providers.

David Oz Borg, who has opened up about his own struggles with mental health and now runs a podcast with top Malta footballer Andrew Hogg, will be hosting a session all about trauma. He will be interviewing Lara Buttigieg and Bryn Kennard on how they overcame challenges in their own lives.

Raechel Hollwey will join the opening discussion entitled Mental Wellness Is A Human Right and will be discussing the topic along with Richmond Foundation CEO Daniela Calleja Bitar, personal trainer Domenic Degiorgio and clinical nutritionist Mariella Porter.

The conference will also feature an informative session led by Ann Bugeja of GVZH Advocates on how to draft your company’s mental wellness policy.

Hygeia: A Conference on Mental Wellness at the Workplace, is the second annual conference being organised by Working Town, and this year co-organised by Up Your Level, Healthmark and We Connect.

The event is also being sponsored by GVZH, Enemed, Zero Bubble, Iris Thaumas, Garnish and PKF.

Early bird tickets can be bought until Sunday 16 September from here. 

To foster more participation by the public, the event will come to a close with a session that is open to non-ticket holders.

Would you like to have your say on mental wellness at the workplace? Fill in this short survey here.