1. Leonid McKay Caritas Malta Friday, 8th October 2010

2. Main Objectives 1. Understanding Poverty Discourse 2. Relationship between Mental Health, Poverty and Material Deprivation 3. Price of Basket of Essential Items in relation to social benefits income for persons with mental health issues

3. Understanding Poverty Discourse

4. Is poverty in Malta self-inflicted? Eurobarometer 2010 – third of the participants attribute poverty to laziness The bloggers’ point of view; irresponsability,mismanagment,ignorance,free-riders

5. Blogs on www.timesofmalta.comwww.timesofmalta.com As I said on various occasions There is no poverty in Malta. Those who say they can’t make ends meet are the same people who spend their benefits on Super 5 and the lotto weekly Il-poverta tezisti ghax hafna ma jafux il-prijoritajiet. In nies huma fil-faqar huma dawk l-stess nies li dejjem tarahom fuq lstalls tal-hwejjeg u dehlin u hergin ghand il beautician ghand il hairdresser u ghand tal lottu’

6. il-faqar igibuh b’idejhom in-nies stess. Separazzjonijiet, ghazz, tqala bla missierijiet maghrufa, injuranza u nuqqas ta’ attendenza fl-skola. U ma jistax jkun li ahna nibqghu nissussidjaw l-ghazz u l-modi stravaganti ta’ hajja li qed jghixu dawk li li qed jghidu li huma fqar

7. Several cannot cope because their priorities are not right, some people complain that they cannot manage but they still smoke 5 euro a day and still include silly items among their basics. We should speak louder on the aspects related to laziness, some people seek to remain free-riders forever.

8. The other side of the coin What about.... victims of domestic violence? persons with familiar responsabilities who cannot access the labour market? the blind? refugees? persons with mental health problems? persons who suffered work related accidents? the working poor? substance abusers?

9. Sociological research Rev Dr Charles Tabone and Dr Angela Abela in Family Poverty and Social Exclusion; with a speical emphasis on Children ‘ when they can, they do the odd job to top up their income. Nevertheless this does not happen on a regular basis because of their chronic health problems or lack of opportunity’

10. Mario Cardona in his report about poverty in Malta You will always have the poor among you – by the Centre for Faith and Justice ‘ some are quick to rush into conclusions, blaming the poor themselves for their own ailments. However, we need to analyse the capitalist economic system’.

11. Mental Health, Poverty and Material Deprivation

12. What relationship? Is there a relationship betwen poverty and mental health? Latest Eurobarometer figures show that only 29% of the Maltese beleive in a direct relationship

13. Voices from the ground Caritas’ research in Birkirkara parish with 98 families entitled to receive, per household, processed EU Intervention Stocks Empirical exploration of how people go about their lives despite their having a relatively lower financial income

14. The different faces of Poverty

15. ‘I want to live my life to the full, even if I am weak, vulnerable and Ill’ Mental Health Issues The Main aspects leading to material deprivation 1. Medicine (unless provided by the state) 2. Financial Income 3. Family and Social Network 4. Inadequate Housing Conditions

16. Price of Basket of Essential Items by Caritas Malta WeeklyPrice for the average Maltese Family (2 adults and 2 children as per April 2010 )

17. CommodityNotes€ Bread and Cereals15.64 MeatChicken and Rabbit only 18.01 Fish4.27 Milk, Cheese and Eggs11.84 Oils and Fats2.44 Fruit6.89 Vegetables8.69 Garments18.98 Shoes and other footwear including repair and hire of footwear 6.95 Actual Rentals paid by tenantsIf dwelling is rented136.82 Materials for the Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling 6.81

18. CommodityNotes€ Services for the Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling 7.95 Water2.48 Electricity9.61 Gas0.72 Non Durable H/hold GoodsCleaning Materials/Detergants 7.31 Pharmaceutical ProductsMedications bought which are not provided by the State 10.11 Passenger Transport1.88 Telephone/Telephax Equipment&ServicesFixed Telephone14.87 MiscallenousPrinting/Stationery/Drawing1.56 Haidressing Salons/GroomingRegular haircut6.94 Electical Appliances/Products for Personal Care Personal Hygiene Products10.75 Social ProtectionNI Contribution2.28

19. Total Cost of Weekly Basket of Essential Items for the average Maltese Family is € 313.79

20. Financial Income for Unemployed Persons experiencing Mental Health Problems Users’ Income Per Month Users with Pension (A) User with Social Assistance (B) Unemployment Assistance (C) Main Income, SA, P, or UA € 380€ 363€ 317 SKA€ 83 Supplemtary Allowance € 17 Total€ 480€ 463€ 417 Approximate Total per week € 120€ 115.75€ 104,25 SA-SocialAssistance; P-Disability Pension; UA- UnemploymentAllowance; SKA- SicknessAllowance

21. Policy Recomendations Fight against Distorted Perceptions of the Poor Cooperation Model between the Main Stakeholders Reviewing the Labour Market idea as the only route out of Poverty Strenghtening of Social Protecition System The Housing Sector – the driving forces; the market or not? Basket of Essential Items as a means to control prices of basic needs

22. Thank You