Low Cost Community Health Interventions to Address the Mental Health Crisis Arising From Greece’s Financial Austerity Measures
Article Sidebar
Published:
Nov 17, 2014
Keywords:
Greece, financial crisis, mental health, Psychiatric Reform, suicide
Main Article Content
Abstract
In response to the European financial crisis of 2008-2009, Greece reduced funding for social spending as part of its austerity program, which may have reversed past progress in Greece’s mental health system. Significant increases in depression and suicide rates coincided with the start of the crisis. A slower economic recovery may result from the combination of a less productive work force and out-migration of mental health professionals. In order to alleviate the detrimental effects of this crisis, mental health crisis training, as well as low cost community-based programs should be prioritized in Greece.
Article Details
Section
Commentary
- Authors publishing in the UOJM retain copyright of their articles, including all the drafts and the final published version in the journal.
- While UOJM does not retain any rights to the articles submitted, by agreeing to publish in UOJM, authors are granting the journal right of first publication and distribution rights of their articles.
- Authors are free to submit their works to other publications, including journals, institutional repositories or books, with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in UOJM.
- Copies of UOJM are distributed both in print and online, and all materials will be publicly available online. The journal holds no legal responsibility as to how these materials will be used by the public.
- Please ensure that all authors, co-authors and investigators have read and agree to these terms.
- Works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
References
1) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Social Spending During the Crisis – Social Expenditure (SOCX) Data Update 2012. [Internet]. Paris (FR): OECD; Year 2012 [cited 2013 8 Dec]. Available from: http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/OECD2012SocialSpendingDuringTheCrisis8pages.pdf.
2) Karastergiou, A, Mastrogianni, A, Georgiadou, E, Kotrotsio, S, Mauratziotou, K. The Reform of the Greek Mental Health Services. Journal of Mental Health. 2005; 14(2): 197-203.
3) Christodoulou, GN, Ploumpidis, DN, Christodoulou, NG, Anagnostopoulos, DC. The State of Psychiatry in Greece. International Review of Psychiatry. 2012; 24(4): 301.
4) Hellenic Statistical Authority ELSTAT. Physicians by Specialty and Dentists, by Geographic Region. [Internet]. Athens (GR): ELSTAT; Year 2012 [cited 2013 Dec 12]. Available from: http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/PAGE-themes?p_param=A2103&r_param=SHE09&y_param=2012_00&mytabs=0
5) Press TV. Economic Crisis in Greece Hits Mental Health: Study. [Internet]. Tehran (IR): Press TV; 2013 Oct 3 [cited 11 Dec 2013]. Available from: http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/10/03/327435/crisis-in-greece-hits-mental-health/
6) Ekathimerini. Sharp Rises in Suicide Amid Crisis [Internet]. Athens (GR): Ekathimerini News; 2011 June 30 [cited 2013 Dec 7]. Available from: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_30/06/2011_396649
7) Madianos, M, Economou, M, Alexiou, T, Stefanis, C. Depression and Economic Hardship Across Greece in 2008 and 2009: Two Cross-Sectional Surveys Nationwide. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2011; 46(10): 943-52.
8) European commission, Mental Health Indicators [Internet]. Athens (GR): European Core Health Indicators; [cited 2014 Mar 31]. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/indicators/index_en.htm
9) World Health Organization. Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care: A Global Perspective [Internet]. Geneva (CH); 2008 [cited 2014 Aug 23]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/resources/mentalhealth_PHC_2008.pdf
10) Sahu, KK. Impact Evaluation of the Community Mental Health Program at Habra. Indian J Psychiatry. 2014; 56(2): 143-9.
11) Sherman, MD. The Support and Family Education (SAFE) Program: Mental Health Facts for Families. Psychiatr Serv. 2003; 54(1): 35-7.
12) Kitchener, BA, Jorm, AF. Mental Health First Aid Training in a Workplace Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2004; 4: 23.
13) Morawska, A, Fletcher, R, Pope, S, Heathwood, E, Anderson, E, McAuliffe, C. Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid Training in a Diverse Community Setting. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 2013; 22: 85-92.
14) Kato, TA et al. Development of 2-hour Suicide Intervention Program Among Medical Residents: First Pilot Trial. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 2010; 64: 531-540.
15) Rutz, W, von Knorring, L, Walinder, J. Long-term Effects of an Educational Program for General Practitioners Given by the Swedish Committee for the Prevention and Treatment of Depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1992; 85(1): 83-8.
16) Thompson, C et al. Effects of a Clinical-Practice Guideline and Practice-Based Education on Detection and Outcome of Depression in Primary Care: Hampshire Depression Project Randomised Controlled Trial. Lancet. 2000; 355(9199): 185-91.
17) Mental Health Commission of Canada. Creating Change: Annual Report 2012-2013 [Internet]. Ottawa (ON). 2013 [cited 2014 Aug 23]. Available from: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/annual-report-2012-2013
18) Cavanagh, K, Millings, A. (Inter)personal Computing: The Role of the Therapeutic Relationship in E-mental Health. J Contemp Psychother. 2013; 43: 197-206.
19) Warmerdam, L, van Straten, A, Jongsma, J, Twisk, J, Cuijpers, P. Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Problem-Solving Therapy for Depressive Symptoms: Exploring Mechanisms of Change. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 2010; 41: 64-70.
20) Rhee, W, Merbaum, M, Strube, M, Self, S. Efficacy of Brief Telephone Psychotherapy with Callers to a Suicide Hotline. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 2005; 35(3): 317-328.
1) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Social Spending During the Crisis – Social Expenditure (SOCX) Data Update 2012. [Internet]. Paris (FR): OECD; Year 2012 [cited 2013 8 Dec]. Available from: http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/OECD2012SocialSpendingDuringTheCrisis8pages.pdf.
2) Karastergiou, A, Mastrogianni, A, Georgiadou, E, Kotrotsio, S, Mauratziotou, K. The Reform of the Greek Mental Health Services. Journal of Mental Health. 2005; 14(2): 197-203.
3) Christodoulou, GN, Ploumpidis, DN, Christodoulou, NG, Anagnostopoulos, DC. The State of Psychiatry in Greece. International Review of Psychiatry. 2012; 24(4): 301.
4) Hellenic Statistical Authority ELSTAT. Physicians by Specialty and Dentists, by Geographic Region. [Internet]. Athens (GR): ELSTAT; Year 2012 [cited 2013 Dec 12]. Available from: http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/PAGE-themes?p_param=A2103&r_param=SHE09&y_param=2012_00&mytabs=0
5) Press TV. Economic Crisis in Greece Hits Mental Health: Study. [Internet]. Tehran (IR): Press TV; 2013 Oct 3 [cited 11 Dec 2013]. Available from: http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/10/03/327435/crisis-in-greece-hits-mental-health/
6) Ekathimerini. Sharp Rises in Suicide Amid Crisis [Internet]. Athens (GR): Ekathimerini News; 2011 June 30 [cited 2013 Dec 7]. Available from: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_30/06/2011_396649
7) Madianos, M, Economou, M, Alexiou, T, Stefanis, C. Depression and Economic Hardship Across Greece in 2008 and 2009: Two Cross-Sectional Surveys Nationwide. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2011; 46(10): 943-52.
8) European commission, Mental Health Indicators [Internet]. Athens (GR): European Core Health Indicators; [cited 2014 Mar 31]. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/indicators/index_en.htm
9) World Health Organization. Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care: A Global Perspective [Internet]. Geneva (CH); 2008 [cited 2014 Aug 23]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/resources/mentalhealth_PHC_2008.pdf
10) Sahu, KK. Impact Evaluation of the Community Mental Health Program at Habra. Indian J Psychiatry. 2014; 56(2): 143-9.
11) Sherman, MD. The Support and Family Education (SAFE) Program: Mental Health Facts for Families. Psychiatr Serv. 2003; 54(1): 35-7.
12) Kitchener, BA, Jorm, AF. Mental Health First Aid Training in a Workplace Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2004; 4: 23.
13) Morawska, A, Fletcher, R, Pope, S, Heathwood, E, Anderson, E, McAuliffe, C. Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid Training in a Diverse Community Setting. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 2013; 22: 85-92.
14) Kato, TA et al. Development of 2-hour Suicide Intervention Program Among Medical Residents: First Pilot Trial. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 2010; 64: 531-540.
15) Rutz, W, von Knorring, L, Walinder, J. Long-term Effects of an Educational Program for General Practitioners Given by the Swedish Committee for the Prevention and Treatment of Depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1992; 85(1): 83-8.
16) Thompson, C et al. Effects of a Clinical-Practice Guideline and Practice-Based Education on Detection and Outcome of Depression in Primary Care: Hampshire Depression Project Randomised Controlled Trial. Lancet. 2000; 355(9199): 185-91.
17) Mental Health Commission of Canada. Creating Change: Annual Report 2012-2013 [Internet]. Ottawa (ON). 2013 [cited 2014 Aug 23]. Available from: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/annual-report-2012-2013
18) Cavanagh, K, Millings, A. (Inter)personal Computing: The Role of the Therapeutic Relationship in E-mental Health. J Contemp Psychother. 2013; 43: 197-206.
19) Warmerdam, L, van Straten, A, Jongsma, J, Twisk, J, Cuijpers, P. Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Problem-Solving Therapy for Depressive Symptoms: Exploring Mechanisms of Change. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 2010; 41: 64-70.
20) Rhee, W, Merbaum, M, Strube, M, Self, S. Efficacy of Brief Telephone Psychotherapy with Callers to a Suicide Hotline. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 2005; 35(3): 317-328.