Richmond Foundation awarded European Citizens’ Prize

The Richmond Foundation, the Maltese organisation that helps people with mental health problems, was awarded the European Parliament’s Citizens Prize for 2015.

In an award ceremony at Dar l-Ewropa, Valletta, Richmond chairman Anthony Guillaumier hailed the prize as “momentous” and thanked the six Maltese MEPs for jointly nominating the organisation for the prize.

“The 2015 jury has honoured the efforts of citizens to provide healthcare in the community, those very same European citizens whose daily work is essential to the social cohesion of our countries,” Guillaumier said. "This award places on us greater responsibility, that of working even harder to make our society a better one.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Nationalist MEP David Casa called for more awareness on mental health.

“One in four Europeans are affected by mental health problems", Casa said.  "Greater awareness is necessary and the stigma that is associated with these conditions must be addressed. I hope that this award presented here on behalf of the European Parliament helps in raising awareness, but also serves as recognition of the great work being done by the Richmond Foundation.”

Labour MEP Miriam Dalli said that mental health should not be discussed any differently to physical health.

"The mind is not any different from the rest of the body when it comes to health problems,” she said.

Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola admitted that politicians do not talk about mental health problems as much as they should, and expressed her hope that public discourse shifts towards that way.