https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/698 2026-11-07T01:36:56Z 2026-11-07T01:36:56Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150766 2026-11-04T13:43:53Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Understanding hierarchies, roles and professional identities within mental health disciplines in a changing Maltese context Abstract: This dissertation explores the evolving landscape of mental health professions in Malta, focusing on psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, and counselling. It critically examines how these “psy-disciplines,” conceptualised in sociological literature, construct professional identities, navigate interprofessional dynamics, and negotiate hierarchical structures within Malta’s unique cultural and institutional context. Drawing on qualitative interviews with practitioners across disciplines, the research investigates how overlapping roles, contested boundaries, and unequal institutional authority shape both professional practice and service delivery. The study situates Malta’s mental health system within broader global trends of medicalisation and professionalisation, tracing its historical development from asylum-based psychiatry to the gradual emergence of regulated psychological and therapeutic professions. It highlights the enduring dominance of psychiatry, underpinned by biomedical models and state-sanctioned authority, while also examining the rise of psychotherapeutic and counselling approaches emphasising relational and holistic care. The analysis foregrounds tensions around role clarity, referral practices, and ethical responsibility, particularly in light of resource shortages, fragmented service provision, and the absence of clear public pathways for accessing care. By applying sociological theories of professions, including Freidson’s professional dominance and neo-Weberian concepts of social closure, the thesis interrogates how power and legitimacy are distributed within Malta’s mental health field. It also draws on symbolic interactionism to illuminate the performative aspects of professional identity and emotional labour in therapeutic work. Findings suggest that while interdisciplinary collaboration is increasingly emphasised in policy, significant barriers structural, cultural, and epistemological persist. The thesis concludes with recommendations for enhancing interprofessional cooperation, clarifying professional roles, and fostering a more equitable, person-centred mental health system. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150765 2026-11-04T13:42:48Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: To dwell, perchance to dream : homing national imaginaries in the city of Mdina, Malta Abstract: Some places have qualities attributed to them which make them important sites for personal and collective remembering and imagining. Mdina, a fortified city in central Malta, is one of such places for those who dwell within it and those who visit and work within its walls. The city is deeply layered with history and is shaped by its heritage, memory and fantasy. This dissertation explores the socio-spatial and symbolic processes which make, remake and represent Mdina as a dwelling place that contributes to Malta’s national imaginary. The dissertation adopts a qualitative research design combining visual ethnography, participant observation and semi-structured interviews with residents, visitors and people working in the heritage and tourism sectors in Mdina. The data gathered demonstrates how Mdina is a crucial and at times an indispensable oneiric space, in Bachelard’s (1994) sense, for the Maltese nation. It is a place that allows people to dream of the past, which sparks the imagination through an interplay between experiences of the material and the emotional, evoking a sense of comfort that recall a feeling of home. Homing practices in this unique setting are entangled with broader narratives of Maltese heritage, authenticity, and belonging. This study argues that the place making, memory-making and home-making practices in Mdina which are inherently socio- material and evocatively symbolic, allow different people to imagine and dream of the nation in diverse ways. Their engagement with the city’s urban fabric, from its narrow streets and architecture to its ambient quietness and curated historical aura, as well as with popular stories, frequent festivals and guided tours, generate a fertile ground for the cultivation of national imaginaries. The research highlights the tensions between Mdina’s everyday life and its curated national stage by focusing on memory, performance and home-making. It contributes to sociological understandings of place-making, national identity and urban heritage by foregrounding the everyday, symbolic and affective dimensions of historic spaces. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150763 2026-11-04T11:28:25Z 2026-11-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Understanding budget 2027 Abstract: In this opinion piece I analyse Malta’s Budget 2027 from a sociological perspective, examining how it balances Keynesian economic intervention, fiscal responsibility and social stability amid international uncertainty. I raise questions about the social impacts of certain policies and the possibility of an integration trap. I discuss the significance of energy subsidies, social benefits, family support, pension increases and the Government’s proposed shift towards productivity-led economic growth. I also consider tourism’s infrastructural and environmental costs. A central concern is the differentiated treatment of third-country nationals, particularly workers who contribute to Malta’s economy but have not acquired long-term resident status. This raises important questions about social citizenship, working poverty and inclusion. Every Budget involves choices about who contributes, who benefits and who may be left behind. I argue for evaluating these choices through their social impacts and consequences for people's everyday lives.

2026-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150741 2026-11-05T08:11:46Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring knowledge, attitudes and practices on the use of the emergency contraception in Malta Abstract: The objective of this study is to delve into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding the use of Emergency Contraception in Malta. Nearly a decade has elapsed since the legalization of the Emergency Contraceptive (EC), a topic that has ignited fervent discussions across social media platforms and news outlets, often clouded by the misconception that it is akin to abortion pills. This study builds on a qualitative study I conducted as part of my undergraduate dissertation which showed a collective dissatisfaction regarding the accessibility of emergency contraception. This dissertation aims to illuminate how emergency contraception is perceived broadly among the public and a range of healthcare professionals; particularly their understanding of its functionality, associated risks, avenues for access, and overall attitudes towards it. Additionally, the research seeks to investigate the practices of the public concerning emergency contraception usage. A mixed-methods approach has been employed, incorporating surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focused groups to generate data. My findings indicate that persistent misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding the nature of emergency contraception, its mechanisms, and its accessibility continue to thrive. The views of healthcare professionals are significant as they shape patient information, care and reproductive choices. The thesis places women's reproductive rights within a historical framework, highlighting how societal changes influence perceptions of EC and reproductive health. While legal access to EC has improved, cultural and religious obstacles persist, emphasizing the need for enhanced sex education and information dissemination. Comparisons with other EU nations suggest a need for Malta to normalize acceptance of EC. By highlighting myths and biases about EC, this research seeks to improve public understanding and foster a supportive environment for informed reproductive health decisions. Ultimately, the thesis highlights the need to recognize the connection between legal frameworks and social beliefs to empower reproductive choices, advocating for educational initiatives and open dialogues about reproductive health. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z