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The University of Malta’s Gateway Building was lit up green last week, the colour of mental health awareness, to mark the beginning of Mental Health Month and encourage the UM community to learn about their wellbeing and keep their mental health in check.

Thankfully, the University’s Counselling Unit, the frequently offered courses on Mental Health First Aid, the Chaplaincy and the Student Solidarity Fund, among others, are available for the UM community to avail of when in need.

"When it comes to mental health, ensuring that we have a robust care and support system for those who are living with mental health challenges is of utmost importance.  However, we also need to dedicate the same level of attention and effort to the preventative aspect", said Prof. Paulann Grech from the University's Department of Mental Health. 

She is also of the opinion that in a local setting, it would be beneficial to enhance awareness on how to care for one's mental well-being.

"This necessitates a multi-sectorial effort which targets the various sub-sections of the population.  Important aspects to be considered would be the link between nutrition and mental health as well as the association between physical exercise and mental well-being. Stress reduction techniques, anger management and problem solving would help to  equip people with a tool kit that enables them to safeguard their mental well-being", she continued.

In fact, a , which collected data on Employee Wellbeing at the Workplace, strongly relates mental wellbeing to one’s performance on the job and work relationships. Physical activity, and the availability of psychological help, have been found to be effective stress-reducing methods.

The Chamber of Psychologists has recently .

A calls mental health “an indispensable element of health and wellbeing that we all possess and need to nurture and protect through a proactive and preventive approach that goes far beyond the confines of the health sector”, and vouches to make “efforts to encourage more young persons to take up roles in the mental health professions”.