leonid mckay caritas malta friday, 8th october 2010
TRANSCRIPT
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