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serious mental illnesses such as depression are increasing dramatically, the Welfare State rather than enhanced is repealed.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’