One in four Greek citizens suffers from a mental disorder

Zoi Rapti, Greece’s Deputy Minister of Health, stated that mental disorders, which were around 5 percent before the pandemic, peaked in the last three years, and 22.8 percent of Greek citizens, is That is to say, approximately 1 in 4, faced some type of mental health problem.

“The pandemic has affected a large percentage of the population,” Rapti said. Studies have revealed that not only those staying at home but also employees experience intense pressure and stress during the curfew. As a result, it caused mental disorders.” In his statement, Rapti explained to the public the issues facing citizens, along with his fees, as follows:

15 percent anxiety disorders
7 percent addiction to alcohol and other substances
6 percent severe depression
3 percent psychiatric conditions in children
about 1 percent to 2 percent of bipolar disorder
1 percent schizophrenia and psychosis
1 percent obsessive compulsive disorder
1 percent dementia
5 percent to 10 percent other mental disorders

4 NEW MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND 106 NEW UNITS TO OPEN

Noting that the Ministry of Health will soon launch 4 mental health centers for workers with the funds from the Recovery Fund, due to continued work stress, Rapti said: “These centers will provide psychological support to employees in the form of individual or group counselling. psychotherapy. Three of the centers will operate in Attiki, especially in Piraeus, Egaleo and Athens, and one in Thessaloniki.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Rapti said that approximately $3 billion is transferred to companies each year due to severe stress at work and taking time off or not being productive at work.

Rapti announced that 106 new health units will be established, with financing of 55 million euros from the Community Mental Health Improvement Fund, as part of the work of the National Mental Health Action Plan.

THE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI BEGAN THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY

The Greek Ministry of Health commissioned Dimosthenis Sariyannis, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Aristotelius University of Thessaloniki, who is also responsible for testing wastewater for coronavirus viral load, to measure medicinal substances people take due to mental problems. .

In his statement, Sariyannis said: “Antidepressants and stress medications (benzodiazepines) increased a lot during the pandemic years. Now they have started to decline,” she said.