https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/6400 2026-07-22T12:28:55Z 2026-07-22T12:28:55Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148000 2026-07-13T08:53:34Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Department of Disability Studies at UM : 10th anniversary Abstract: The Department of Disability Studies proudly marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration on 17th February 2025. The event brought together academics, past and present students, and disability rights activists to mark a decade of research and teaching carried out by the department. The event featured a keynote speech by Prof. Angharad Beckett from the University of Leeds. This commemorative video captures the highlights and reflections from the milestone celebration.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Gauci, Maria Victoria https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147846 2026-07-07T08:59:26Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Malta's disability rights situation Authors: Gauci, Maria Victoria Abstract: As in many countries, changing societal perceptions, stigma, disabling attitudes and addressing discrimination remain an ongoing challenge in Malta. According to the 2021 national census, the number of persons who self-identified as disabled or as having a chronic illness in Malta totalled 129,132, representing almost 25% of the total population aged 5 years or more, a 6-percentage-point rise from the 2011 Census (National Statistics Office, 2024). These figures are projected to rise further due to population ageing and increased longevity among people with disabilities. [excerpt]

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Callus, Anne-Marie https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145249 2026-03-30T07:32:55Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The quality of life of persons with visual impairment and their families Authors: Callus, Anne-Marie Abstract: The aim of this research was to investigate the quality of life of persons with visual impairment and their families. The research was carried out by Prof. Anne-Marie Callus, on behalf of The Malta Trust Foundation through funding from the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme of the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, and in consultation with the Malta Federation of the Visually Impaired. Research ethics approval was obtained from the Faculty for Social Wellbeing Research Ethics Committee, University of Malta.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144347 2026-02-26T14:09:57Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Living with a mental health disability and a substance-use disorder : experiences of individuals in the Maltese context Abstract: This dissertation addresses a critical gap in local literature by exploring the lived experiences of individuals navigating co-occurring mental health disabilities and substance use disorders, commonly termed dual diagnosis, within Malta’s unique socio-cultural and systemic context. The rationale lies in the public health challenge posed by dual diagnosis and the need to move beyond medicalised interpretations to consider structural factors influencing health outcomes in a small island state. Guided by the social model of disability and the biopsychosocial framework, this inductive qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with six adult participants in recovery, utilising Reflexive Thematic Analysis to generate nuanced, authentic accounts. Five major themes emerged: "A Self Interrupted," describing identity struggles and maladaptive coping mechanisms alongside existential loneliness; "Societal Shadows," detailing pervasive public and structural stigma amplified by Malta’s closely-knit society; "Familial Echoes," highlighting the family, particularly mothers, as vital sources of emotional stability and motivation; "Service Labyrinths," revealing systemic fragmentation, limited psychoeducation, and failures in essential medication supply; and "Resilient Journeys," illustrating coping strategies based on structured programs, religion, spirituality, and a desire to turn past suffering into guidance for others. Findings suggest participants’ well-being is shaped more by disabling societal barriers, such as employment discrimination and eroded trust from confidentiality breaches, than by individual impairment. Malta’s tight social fabric, cultural expectations and stigma pressure individuals to conceal struggles to protect family reputation, intensifying distress, isolation, and suicide risk. Recovery is undermined by systemic inefficiencies and the dissonance between policy rhetoric and the operational realities of inadequate support structures. The study advocates for urgent policy shifts to dismantle structural stigma, ensure integrated, person-centred care, and reframe dual diagnosis as a pressing social justice and disability concern to promote genuine social inclusion. Description: M.A. Dis. St.(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z