The Mental Health Act (Chapter 525 of the Laws of Malta) provides the legal framework for the promotion, protection and regulation of mental health care, safeguarding the rights and dignity of persons with mental disorders. The Mental Health Act includes specific provisions safeguarding minors (persons under 18) receiving mental health care. It establishes that children must be treated in the least restrictive environment, accommodated separately from adults, and have their developmental needs taken into account. Parents or legal guardians generally represent minors in decisions, including consent to treatment, although the child’s views must also be considered according to age and maturity. The Act also provides strong protections, such as prohibiting irreversible treatments (e.g. psychosurgery) on minors and requiring strict safeguards for any research involving them. Additionally, minors can be subject to involuntary admission under the same criteria as adults, but with added protections and oversight.

Malta has a National Mental Health Strategy 2020–2030, adopted by the Government and implemented under the responsibility of the Ministry for Health. The strategy is a national policy framework (strategic document) covering the period 2020–2030 and applies to the whole population, with specific attention to children, adolescents and young people.

The strategy is built around a vision of promoting mental well-being, preventing mental disorders, and ensuring access to quality, community-based care. It reflects a shift from institutional to community-based mental health services and is structured around key action areas, including:

• promotion of mental health and well-being;
• prevention and early intervention;
• improvement of service delivery systems;
• support for individuals and families;
• strengthening workforce capacity and innovation.

Young people are identified as a key target group, particularly in relation to early intervention, school-based support, and transition phases. The strategy also includes elements relevant to suicide prevention through early detection, crisis response, and community support mechanisms.

Malta’s suicide prevention efforts are addressed within the National Mental Health Strategy 2020–2030, which incorporates a comprehensive approach to reducing suicide and self-harm. Implemented under the responsibility of the Ministry for Health, the strategy emphasises early identification of risk, improved access to mental health services, crisis intervention, and postvention support. It promotes cross-sectoral collaboration between health, education and social services, while also prioritising awareness-raising, stigma reduction, and community-based support systems. Particular attention is given to vulnerable groups, including young people, with measures aimed at strengthening resilience, enhancing support structures, and ensuring timely and appropriate care.

Implementation and monitoring are coordinated by the Ministry for Health, in collaboration with relevant public health services. The strategy aligns with broader public health and social policies; however, publicly available detailed evaluation results remain limited.

At national level, mental health support for young people is primarily delivered through the public healthcare system coordinated by the Ministry for Health and Mental Health Services Malta.

Key measures include:

The Young People’s Unit at Mount Carmel Hospital within Mental Health services uses a pre-admission system to screen patients and only admits young people between the ages of 12 and 18 with mental issues such as bipolar disorder, depression, and autism with aggression issues. 

The Child, Adolescent and Youth Services (CAYS), which forms part of the Ministry for Health, provides multidisciplinary support to children, adolescents and young people through a holistic and family-centred approach. The service focuses on delivering individualised care plans tailored to the specific needs of each young person, while actively involving their families and caregivers. Its mission is to empower young people to reach their full potential through meaningful participation and rehabilitation in daily life. In doing so, CAYS addresses needs across education, health and social care, facilitates social integration, promotes inclusion and acceptability, enhances the quality of care, and provides ongoing support to carers and families.

Community-based Mental Health Services specialist mental health team that provides timely and compassionate psychiatric care to individuals in a mental health crisis. Throughout the CRHT interventions, service-users are empowered to address their mental health crises and to reinforce their resilience through the provision of evidence-based interventions and psychoeducation. 

provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment also for young people experiencing mental health difficulties. They operate through multidisciplinary teams and focus on early intervention, accessibility, and continuity of care. Services are publicly funded and accessible through referral systems.

Crisis resolution Home Treatment is a specialised emergency response structures exist for acute mental health situations among young people, including crisis assessment and short-term intervention. These contribute to national suicide prevention efforts by ensuring timely support for high-risk cases.

Through collaboration with the Ministry for Education the School-based psychosocial support offers psychosocial services within schools, including guidance teachers, counsellors and psychological support services. These aim to promote well-being, detect issues early, and provide referral pathways to specialised care.

The Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity offers a number of services targeting the mental health of young people. 

Youth in Focus provides social work intervention to adolescents and young persons, aged between 13 and 18, with the scope of assisting them throughout their adolescence, by addressing their needs and empowering them to reach their full potential. There is a wide range of presenting difficulties and issues that the team encounters and deals with. These may include, anger management, mental health difficulties, turbulent relationships, alcohol/drug abuse & other addictions, promiscuity, time management, prostitution, criminal behavior, employment, petty crime, past traumas, poverty & homelessness, etc.

Embark for Life (E4L) targets young people aged 15-25 years and supports them in finding employment. This service was already in existence as it was a service funded by the EU under the European Social Fund and, following its success, local funds were provided and the service started operating in July 2013. E4L contributes towards the community strategic guidelines by matching project participants to avail of the already existing schemes and educational/vocational training in the country, whilst supporting them in finding suitable employment. Disadvantaged young people are often likely to fall into the social benefit trap. Thus, by supporting them to lead a sustainable healthy lifestyle and have job security, their dependence on social assistance and the revolving syndrome of attaining support from various public services is minimized.

The Adolescent Day Program (ADP) addresses the needs of young people who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The service caters for young people between the ages of 14 to 18 who exhibit challenging behaviour. The programme supports young people by providing them with a secure environment where they can easily express their feelings and emotions without any judgement.

Kellimni.com is a joint effort between Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity and SOS Malta. This initiative is an online support service run by trained staff and volunteers reachable through Chat, Email, Whatsapp, Messenger, Instagram and Telegram for support. Young people can, express their concerns and talk about the issues directly affecting them in an anonymous way. Kellimni.com is aimed at young people who are suffering from any form of social exclusion, abuse, neglect, and/or psychological difficulties and are in need of immediate emotional, moral and social support. The service also offers up to 12 free online counselling sessions with professionals.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ offers a number of services targeting the mental health of young people. 

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ offers Resilience Toolbox, a workshop designed for young people aged between 12 and 16 in youth organisations, aimed at strengthening their resilience through various coping strategies. The 90 minute workshop is delivered by a youth worker and provides a space for self-reflection, encouraged participants to recognise and understand different emotions, and equipped them with a variety of tools to manage and navigate these emotions. Through this workshop, young people explored resilience-building techniques to help them cope with life’s challenges and developed skills to identify different feelings and emotions. Additionally, it offered an opportunity for self-improvement, encouraging participants to practice self-reflection and gratitude.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and MGRM collaborate to provide a welcoming and supportive space for young people exploring or identifying as LGBTQI+ through a dedicated youth café. Aġenzija Żgħażagħ contributes by offering the space and the support of a youth worker, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment. The café provides a range of services, including individual support for mental health and well-being. This initiative fosters a sense of belonging, encouraging young people to express themselves, navigate their identities, and develop essential life skills in a supportive and safe environment.

In 2024 Aġenzija Żgħażagħ launched Saqsi Ftit (Ask a Little), a social media campaign aimed at promoting conversations around mental well-being. The campaign featured a series of short videos in which mental health professionals explained their roles in supporting individuals’ well-being. These 1–2 minute videos were shared across social media platforms and in youth organizations, encouraging young people to engage in discussions about mental health. The initiative aimed to raise awareness of mental health issues, reduce stigma, and emphasize the importance of seeking professional support when needed. It also served as an educational tool, informing young people about the different mental health professionals available and their roles within health services. This campaign, Saqsi Ftit, sought to create a more open and informed approach to mental health, empowering young people to prioritize their well-being and seek help without hesitation.

In 2025 Aġenzija Żgħażagħ  launched “Inviżibbli” an initiative aimed at raising awareness about mental health among young people and encouraging open conversations around issues that are often unseen or overlooked. Through this initiative, youth workers engage directly with young people in safe and supportive environments, using non-formal education methods to explore themes such as emotional well-being, stigma, and help-seeking behaviour. The programme seeks to empower young people to better understand their mental health, recognise when support is needed, and build resilience, while also promoting a culture of empathy, inclusion and peer support.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, in collaboration with Mental Health Services, runs Mental Health Ambassadors to engage young volunteers. Recognising the importance of mental health in young people's lives, this initiative aimed to raise awareness and provide essential resources within the community. Through this programme, selected youth ambassadors actively contributed to a mental health campaign designed for their peers, working alongside professionals and fellow ambassadors to create impactful content. Participants had the opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills while promoting open discussions about mental well-being. The programme brought together dedicated young individuals who were team-oriented, positive, and eager to make a difference in the field of mental health advocacy.

Mindful Mosiac is a programme during which young people embark on a dynamic journey that helps them cultivate their mental resilience. It explores practical strategies for navigating challenges, for well-being and unlock potential for persona growth and building mental health.

As part of its information services, Aġenzija Żgħażagħ provides Youth Worker Online to support young people aged 13 to 30. In 2024, six sessions were held with young people. Through these sessions, young people were guided to find and join youth organisations, engage in volunteering opportunities and cultural programmes, develop life skills, and integrate into the community.

In Tune with Myself is a programme that enables young people to d widen their emotional literacy, whilst also acknowledging their potential to deal with stressful events. The programme creates the space for young people to touch base with their mental and physical well-being whilst identifying and applying coping techniques. 

ZenZone is a programme through which young people learn to break free from negative thought patterns. Young people explore effective techniques to reduce stress, reconnect with their inner selves and achieve a state of balance. Through guided activities young people learn how to better understand and support others, foster a sense of community and develop emotional well-being. 

These measures are funded through national public health and social policy budgets and are subject to ongoing administrative monitoring within the health system. While comprehensive public evaluation data is limited, the overall policy direction emphasises accessibility, early intervention, and integration of services across health, education and social sectors.