Matthew Bartolo

01/10/2025

29/09/2025

We often assume leaders have it all under control:decisive, resilient, and unshaken. But what happens when the very qualities that make someone successful also leave them isolated and emotionally drained?

Recent research into Maltese business leaders has revealed just how heavy the weight of responsibility can be, and how little space there is for them to be human.

Read more about what’s really going on behind closed doors:

We often picture business leaders as confident, driven, and in control. They make big decisions, move companies forward, and often carry the weight of others. But in reality, many leaders do all this while feeling deeply alone. In our recent research conducted through Willingness in collaboration wi...

29/09/2025

Why Malta’s birth rate keeps falling. My thoughts.

In the past year, Malta made headlines for having the lowest fertility rate in the EU at just 1.06 live births per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. This is not simply a statistic. It is a reflection of how life in Malta has changed over the last few decades, and it is something I see echoed daily in the couples who walk into my clinic.

Taking longer to find a life partner.

Many people are forming stable relationships later in life, and the decision to have children is often postponed. This is partly about pursuing education and career goals first, but it also reflects how long it takes to build stability today. The later couples try to start a family, the more they face biological limits. Age related fertility decline is not just theory. It is something I sit with in my sessions, as more couples discover how common infertility really is.

Housing pressures

Buying or even renting a home has become one of the biggest barriers. Research shows that affordability for first time buyers in Malta has dropped sharply. Many couples delay moving out of their parents’ homes, and without that independent step, parenthood often gets pushed further down the line.

Work and family squeeze

Malta has taken positive steps, such as free childcare, which has encouraged more mothers to work. But the way policies are designed still makes raising more than one child difficult. Families who work irregular hours, or those who do not qualify for certain schemes, can feel stretched to breaking point. Studies across Europe are clear. Generous parental leave and affordable, universally available childcare together make the biggest difference to fertility rates.

Cultural and personal shifts

Younger generations are also redefining what makes a good life. Travel, career, education, and financial independence are highly valued. These are not selfish choices. They are rational responses to the opportunities and pressures of modern society. But they do mean that children are often seen as something to consider later, which sometimes becomes too late.

Infertility on the rise

Globally, about one in six people experience infertility at some point. In Malta, where many try for children in their thirties, age and lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking, and stress compound the problem. Assisted reproduction helps many, but it cannot fully balance the national trend of declining births.

So, what can be done?

Falling fertility is not simply about individuals choosing not to have children. It is about the environment we live in, the policies, the housing market, the workplace culture, and the expectations we carry as a society. If Malta wants to address this, several changes are needed:

1. Affordable housing. Young adults need real opportunities to build independent households earlier, without crippling debt. Housing policy must become family policy.

2. Family friendly workplaces. More flexible working hours, the option of remote work, and employer support for parents make it possible for families to have more than one child without burning out.

3. Stronger parental leave. Both mothers and fathers benefit from meaningful paid leave. When men are encouraged to take leave, family responsibilities balance out and more couples feel able to grow their families.

4. Accessible quality childcare. Current schemes are a good start, but access should be universal, affordable, and available outside the rigid nine to five.

5. Public health focus on fertility. Campaigns that promote preconception health, tackle obesity, and raise awareness about the impact of age on fertility can help couples make more informed decisions earlier.

6. Support for those facing infertility. Alongside medical services, couples need psychological support to navigate the stress and strain that infertility brings.

Low birth rates are often treated as numbers for economists to worry about, but behind every statistic are real couples struggling to balance dreams of a family with the reality of modern life. My hope is that Malta can begin to see this not just as a demographic issue, but as a social one. If we create the right conditions through housing, policies, workplaces, and healthcare, we make it easier for those who want children to actually have them. And that, ultimately, strengthens all of us.

Obviously, by no means am I suggesting that those who do not want children should be pressured into having a family.

28/09/2025

:)

28/09/2025

🌟 We’re Hiring 🌟

At Willingness Team, we’re looking for part-time Youth Workers and Social Workers to join our growing projects. They’re fun, impactful, and meaningful.

✅ Flexible hours
✅ Supportive team
✅ Own transport required

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of something exciting, get in touch with us today. Let’s talk about how you can join our journey.

28/09/2025

Hugging Your Younger Self

There’s a trend going around where people upload pictures of themselves hugging their younger selves. At first glance, it looks sweet, nostalgic, even. But the more I think about it, the more I realise how much this reflects what therapy often is at its core.

Wouldn’t it be something if we could actually go back and hug the child we once were? The one who felt too small to speak up, too lost to know what was happening, or too guilty for things that were never their fault. That hug could carry so much safety, reassurance, and compassion.

In therapy, we don’t have the time machine to make that photo real. But the work can feel a lot like that imagined embrace. Healing is often about returning to those parts of ourselves that got wounded along the way. The child who wasn’t seen, the teenager who felt alone, the young adult who made choices out of fear or survival. Therapy asks us to sit with them, listen to them, and sometimes, finally give them the hug they’ve been waiting for.

Of course, this isn’t simple. It means facing pain we’ve tucked away for years. It means realising that the things we went through left marks: some deep, some still raw. However, it also entails acknowledging that those aspects of ourselves remain intact and capable of healing. They are waiting to be acknowledged, held, and healed.

The image of hugging your younger self is powerful because it captures a profound truth: most of us are still carrying that child within us. And until we learn to turn towards them with compassion instead of criticism, healing will always feel out of reach.

So maybe we can’t upload a real picture of that hug. But we can live it. Every time we show ourselves kindness, patience, or forgiveness, we are, in a way, wrapping our arms around that younger self. And that is often where real change begins.

So hug yourself, forgive yourself, be compassionate and understanding to help heal your inner child. The part of you that leads to irrational decisions based on past hurts.

28/09/2025

This is why we teach children just these at our Camp Willingness. These are very important skills that will help children succeed in life. More important than academic achievements I must say.

In Japan 🇯🇵 , kids don’t take exams until age 10.
Instead, they learn empathy, respect & life skills first. 🌱
Smart way to raise balanced kids? 🤔✨

27/09/2025

Let's remember...

What most of people don’t know about teaching

26/09/2025

Going through presentation and notes for this weekend's Ethics lectures. Looking forward to two full days of lecturing for second cohort of Masters in Health Psychology offered by

We are accepting late applications.

25/09/2025

Interested in a Master's in Psychology? A qualification that can lead to a warrant in Health Psychology in Malta?

Applications are being considered for early October, subject to availability.
Weekend modules.
Award-winning practitioners and academics.
https://willingness.com.mt/masters-in-health-psychology/
Call us now

Health psychology focuses on psychology’s role in maintaining health and supporting both the treatment and the prevention of illness.

24/09/2025

✨ Pause & Connect ✨
A monthly women-only space designed just for you, by my colleague, Danica Cassar (a health psychologist).

Join Danica on 15th October, 6–8PM at Palazzo Casteletti, Rabat, for an evening of meaningful connection, growth, and inspiration.

This month’s circle will be facilitated by Danica Cassar, Health Psychologist. Expect rich conversations, insights from diverse professionals, and the chance to meet like-minded women who, like you, juggle career, life, and ambition.

Think bubbles, light bites, and honest chats in a safe and empowering space.

📍 Women only | Every third Wednesday
💬 Reflect. Connect. Leave stronger.

🔗 Scan the QR code to secure your spot.