Stigma in Malta: A Mediterranean Perspective

About this publication

This is an original, plain-language summary based on the abstract and bibliographic record on Hrcak. It is not a reproduction of the article or a full-text review.

This conference paper examines mental-health stigma in Malta through a transcultural perspective. Rather than treating psychiatric care as separate from its surroundings, it considers how local history, beliefs and institutions shape the way mental illness is understood.

Approach

The authors bring together historical, anthropological and theological perspectives. A central example is the naming of Malta's psychiatric hospital after Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the meaning of that dedication within Maltese and wider Mediterranean culture.

Main points

The paper argues that understanding the hospital's cultural setting requires more than a purely medical explanation. The authors also suggest that Malta has experienced a process of normalisation in the treatment of mental-health problems.

Important limitations

This is a cultural discussion, not a population survey or an intervention trial. The abstract does not quantify stigma or demonstrate a measured reduction in it. Its interpretation of Maltese culture should not be assumed to describe every individual's beliefs or experiences.

This summary is for academic information and is not personal medical advice.

Citation and original source

Agius M, Falzon Aquilina F, Pace C, Grech A. Stigma in Malta; a Mediterranean perspective. Psychiatria Danubina. 2016;28(Suppl 1):75-78.

Original publication record.

Source reviewed: 6 November 2026.