Leonid McKayCaritas Malta

Friday, 8th October 2010

Main Objectives1. 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

Understanding Poverty Discourse

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

Blogs on www.timesofmalta.comAs 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’

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

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.

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?

Sociological researchRev 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’

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’.

Mental Health, Poverty

and Material Deprivation

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

Voices from the groundCaritas’ 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

The different faces of Poverty

‘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 Income3.Family and Social Network4.Inadequate Housing Conditions

Price of Basket of Essential Items by Caritas Malta

WeeklyPrice for the average Maltese

Family(2 adults and 2 children as

per April 2010 )

Commodity Notes €

Bread and Cereals 15.64

Meat Chicken and Rabbit only

18.01

Fish 4.27

Milk, Cheese and Eggs 11.84

Oils and Fats 2.44

Fruit 6.89

Vegetables 8.69

Garments 18.98

Shoes and other footwear including repair and hire of footwear

6.95

Actual Rentals paid by tenants If dwelling is rented

136.82

Materials for the Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling

6.81

Commodity Notes €

Services for the Maintenance and Repair of the Dwelling

7.95

Water 2.48

Electricity 9.61

Gas 0.72

Non Durable H/hold Goods Cleaning Materials/Detergants

7.31

Pharmaceutical Products Medications bought which are not provided by the State

10.11

Passenger Transport 1.88

Telephone/Telephax Equipment&Services

Fixed Telephone 14.87

MiscallenousPrinting/Stationery/Drawing

1.56

Haidressing Salons/Grooming Regular haircut 6.94

Electical Appliances/Products for Personal Care

Personal Hygiene Products

10.75

Social Protection NI Contribution 2.28

Total Cost of Weekly Basket of Essential Items for the average Maltese Family is

€ 313.79

Financial Income for Unemployed Persons experiencing Mental Health ProblemsUsers’ 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 € 83 € 83

Supplemtary Allowance

€ 17 € 17 € 17

Total € 480 € 463 € 417

Approximate Total per week

€ 120 € 115.75 € 104,25

SA-SocialAssistance; P-Disability Pension; UA-UnemploymentAllowance; SKA-SicknessAllowance

Policy RecomendationsFight against Distorted Perceptions of the PoorCooperation Model between the Main

StakeholdersReviewing the Labour Market idea as the only

route out of PovertyStrenghtening of Social Protecition SystemThe Housing Sector – the driving forces; the

market or not?Basket of Essential Items as a means to control

prices of basic needs

Thank You