Community psychiatry in Malta - 1994

Abstract

Community services have been gradually insinuating themselves into psychiatry in industrialised countries for the past forty years. Although still backward, Malta has taken its first tentative steps and will hopefully catch up within the not too distant future. Community psychiatry refers to a movement away from management and life in large psychiatric institutions to care in and integration with the community. It has been stimulated by a number of factors including the humanitarianism of workers in the field and a change in social attitudes. Also, it is now clearly recognised that although sufferers in their majority have to be treated medically, there are very important psychological and social aspects to their illness which need particular attention.