Mental Health Europe: Worrying cuts in funding by Greek government - investing in Mental Health services must be a priority in times of crisis

    

MENTAL HEALTH EUROPE – SANTE MENTALE EUROPE aisbl
Boulevard Clovis 7, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel +32 2 280 04 68 - Fax +32 2 280 16 04
E-Mail: info@mhe-sme.org
www.mhe-sme.org

Brussels 27 November 2012

Sir, Madam,

Re: Worrying cuts in funding by Greek government - investing in Mental Health services must be a priority in times of crisis

Mental Health Europe (MHE) is a  non-governmental organisation committed to the promotion of positive mental health and well-being, the prevention of mental health problems, the improvement of care, advocacy for social inclusion and the protection of the human rights of (ex)users of mental health services and their families and carers. MHE represents associations, organisations and individuals active in the field of mental health and well-being in Europe, including (ex)users of mental health services, volunteers and professionals of many disciplines. MHE is a widely represented European body comprising a membership of more than 70 organisations in 30 European countries including Greece.

The Board of Directors of MHE met on the 14th of November and was at this occasion informed in depth about the situation in Greece, in terms of the impact of the current austerity measures on the provision of mental health services. These measures have resulted in enormous cutbacks in financing of mental health services, rising up to 55%. The non-governmental organisations that rely on this funding to offer psychosocial rehabilitation services in the community struggle to maintain their operations, although these services are often the only viable alternatives to people with mental health problems to maintain a dignified life and be included in the community. MHE is seriously concerned about this situation, as investing in social services and health care should be a priority, and particularly in times of crisis when the demand for support and services increases.

There is a clear link between unemployment and mental health problems. With the current crisis, more and more persons have become unemployed, or are at risk of losing their job, which leads in all too many cases to mental health problems. In addition, the fact of having a mental health problem is sometimes the cause for losing a job, unless there are appropriate services provided which can help the person return to a more stable situation. Unless priority is given to these services, the number of persons who are active and contribute financially to society will decrease, which will further aggravate the already alarming financial situation in Greece.

Furthermore, it is indispensable to focus on primary care, including prevention and mental health promotion measures in order to avoid secondary problems, which have detrimental effects on the individuals affected the most, but which also imply a much bigger long-term cost for society.

In Greece, existing structures to provide support have  proven to be effective, especially the model of the Mobile Psychiatric Units (outreach units), which has inspired the rest of Europe. With the current cuts in funding of these structures, there will be an increased risk of relapse among patients,  with dangerous consequences for their lives and well-being, and with a large number of employees  who benefited from these structures who lose their jobs and entire geographic regions of the country remaining without mental health care services. This may lead to serious consequences, such as homelessness and/or re-institutionalisation of persons who previously had the opportunity to live in society with the appropriate support services.

Also, returning to a system where institutions are the predominant means for providing care to persons who live with mental health problems would be a dangerous step backwards for human rights in Greece. In addition, institutions are in the long run more expensive than community-based services. Very serious Human Rights abuses in Greece were made known publicly in the 1980’s, both on the island of Leros and within the psychiatric system generally. Thanks to European support, as well as EU interventions and additional support from NGOs, this outdated system was reformed, and mental health care has been substantially improved and better provided through community-based services. MHE is concerned that the current measures taken by the Greek Government could lead to a situation in terms of human rights abuses and living conditions for persons with mental health problems that becomes as serious as was the case 30 years back in time. No modern society can afford such exclusion. Investing in social and health care services are essential in times of crisis, and MHE trusts that the Greek Government will take the necessary measures to break this vicious cycle, in order to prevent a complete collapse of the Greek mental health service support system.

On behalf of the MHE Board of Directors,

Yours sincerely,

Nace Kovac, President

Maria Nyman, Director

Letter to the Greek Government from the MHE Board

     
  

The Complete Dissolution of Mental Health in Greece

PSYCHIATRIC DEREGULATION

We are working in the field of psycho-social care in Greece. The situation for 1600 residents in hostels, housing structures and boarding schools, over 30.000 served daily, approximately 3.000 employees after two years implementation of the Memorandum in our country is tragic. The prevention treatment and rehabilitation of mental illness is hanging by a thread. The Psychiatric Reform has collapsed, the welfare state and Ministry of Health is treated by the government as a luxury that has to be removed.

The rights and lives of patients are violated as a result of closures and mergers care units and structures, because of the brutal cut in resources and Ministry of Health professionals.  The ones listed in an official document of the administration of the State Psychiatric Hospital of “Leros” bring the news yet again the memories of 1989.  From the 5th June, 2012, inform MHSS (Ministry of Health & Social Services) that the State Mental Hospital of “Leros”, unable to feed their 350 patients, because of the debts of the institution of suppliers who have stopped deliveries of food.  Expression 'humanitarian crisis' is not enough to describe the mass extermination which expelled because of repeated measures, the whole –and the most sensitive - population. Indeed, the most difficult period, the economic crisis, serious mental illnesses such as depression are increasing dramatically, the Welfare State rather than enhanced is repealed.

At the same time unpaid workers lift the burden of keeping a rudimentary supply of mental health services for adult patients in and out of housing structures, and for children and adolescents. Salaries of 1000 and 900 euro, not even paid, are cropped. From 2005 onwards, when European funding ceased, we are left unpaid for periods up to 9 months(!). Finally, the reduction of 55% of the budget as last year decided for this year is actually ‘gravestone’. The necessary funds have never been given; the existing funds have long since vanished.

An example is the Mental Health Center ‘Perivolaki’ (private entity, that provide services to children with autism, childhood psychosis etc., and their families under the ‘Psychargos’ program). The administration manipulated arbitrarily and without any transparency the closure of two of the three structures, depriving a population served: A) Day Centers, B) The unique in Greece short-stay hostel and C) Team Diagnosis and Assessment. Handed part of scientifically trained and experienced staff of MHSS with two empty buildings by equipment without work piece, leaving in the air (exposed) 43 employees. The Ministry of Health revoked the operating license of two of these structures, essentially punishing workers instead of imposing sanctions on the administration itself, admits though his letter (5/10/12, Y5β/Γ.Ποικ.96328) that all actions were and are in violation of given instructions. This is the present and the future of Psychiatric Reform in Greece. Disaster services, employer arbitrariness, impunity in terms of political leadership.

Both the Ministry of Health and the governments do not seem willing to defend the essence of Psychiatric Reform, neither our services and nor the people who benefit from them. The absence of serious central planning is complete, and in conjunction with the brutal budget cuts lead with mathematical precision in padlock to their bodies, workers unemployed and recipients of services in conviction.

As workers we believe that these services are not surplus to the community. The funding provided by the European programs and the Greek state for infrastructure and planning was to provide continuity of essential services.

The policies of the Memorandum are making poorer and kill people in the name of salvation, but disregarding us.  

Association of Workers at ‘Perivolaki’
  

Greece 2012: Social Work in Austerity

The following documentary film describes, by the social workers’ point of view, the situation in Greece.

Three social workers from different agencies -NGO, Semi-Public Agency and State Sector- describe the reality of the users and the one of the social services in the era of crisis, austerity and poverty that domain in Greece the last two years after the entrance of IMF….

It’s an attempt for spreading the “voice” of the “front-line” social workers from Greece but it is also an attempt of revealing the reality of the Greek people as well as the attempts and initiatives for resistance and solidarity.

  

Mental health workers continue the occupation of the Ministry of Health

                                                                                                                                        

WE CONTINUE THE OCCUPATION AT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

WE NEED EVERYONE’S SUPPORT

The workers and those sacked from Mental Health and Special Support participated in the 48-hour General Strike and decided to continue the occupation of the Ministry of Health until Sunday 12/2 at noon, which is when we will hold another assembly to decide on the continuation of our mobilisations.

We demand:

-Immediate funding of the structures for the coverage of current needs (wages, insurance funds, running costs etc).

- The cancelling out of the decision to reduce the budget by 55% (40 instead of 85 million) for 2012, which practically means the collapse of the services and the Psychiatric Restructuring.

- Obstacle-free, regular funding of Psychiatric Health and Special Support from the state budget.

- No to lay-offs, mergers, the flexibilisation/ intensification of labour and the reduction in wages which by default lead to a shrinking of the services and the devaluation of their quality.

- Holistic design for a Mental Health that will be public and free, to cover the ever-increasing needs of the society for support and help. Only with the participation of the workers and the recipients through our won structures shall proposals emerge for a true solving of the pending issues.

- Setting out of a common legal framework for Special Support.

- No to the alteration of pensions and benefits of patients for the coverage of permanent running costs of the structures.

- Re-employment of all who have been sacked, because none of us is consumable.

We call all unions and workers attacked by the memorandum’s politics of impoverishment and trashing of the social net to support practically our occupation and to take similar incentives in their own workplaces.

This is the largest mobilisation ever in our workplace and an unprecedented opportunity to co-ordinate our actions, with this occupation being a starting and reference point!

All together we can make it; the occupation needs everyone’s support!

We will meet on Sunday 12/02 at noon at the Assembly to decide the continuation of our mobilisations, and at 6pm at Syntagma.

Workers at Mental Health and Special Support

www.occupiedlondon.org