The Employment Support Programme (ESP) within the People and Standards Division organised a Business Breakfast on 10 October 2022 as part of the Mental Health Awareness Week 2022.

The theme of this initiative was “Priority for mental health in the workplace.” The aim of this Business Breakfast was to raise awareness of the importance of taking care of mental health, both our personal and colleagues, as well as people working in the Public Service.

Dr Joyce Cassar, Permanent Secretary of People and Standards at the Prime Minister’s Office, spoke on how Public Service workers could be affected by their surroundings. Dr Cassar emphasised that although some of us speak up or seek help when we need support to rebalance our mental state, many people who need help when they are suffering, stressed, distressed, feeling alone or anxious, may still fear to show their vulnerability, so they do not resort to the support and help offered.

Ms Chantelle Attard Sciberras, Senior Practitioner at the ESP, said that the main aim of the ESP service is to enhance well-being and productivity so that workers remain healthy and feel that they make an effective contribution in the workplace. The ESP service has therefore changed over time because the needs of public officers have changed.

A premiere of a podcast was also shown in the form of an interview to people invited to Business Breakfast, where Mr Benjamin Gatt, Counselling Psychologist, spoke in general about mental health and how important this is for everyone, especially at the workplace. The second podcast with Dr Maria Bezzina Xuereb, Psychiatric Adviser, will also be shown on the social media of the Public Service. Government workers are being encouraged to share on their personal social media.

The ESP service is voluntarily accessible and remains confidential. Persons wishing to contact the ESP can call or send an email on 22001210 or [email protected].​

The support team, made by social workers, will have first contact with their customers. In case the customer needs therapy units, the customer can benefit from the therapy units administered by the ESP therapists.