June 2024

Meeting of representatives of the American Psychiatric Association and the Hellenic American Psychiatric Association, HAPA with the Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Dimitris Vartzopoulos with the ultimate goal of providing expertise in the field of responding to natural environmental disasters and crisis situations, with regard to the mental health of citizens and those involved in management, as well as investigation of cooperation in the field of Psychiatry to modernize the services provided.

Ministry of Health

Meeting of representatives of the American Psychiatric Association Dr P.Candilis and Dr V.Pozios, and the President of the Hellenic American Psychiatric Association (HAPA), Dr G.Karampoutakis,  in EODY in Athens and in EODY in the University of Thessaly, School of Health Ssiences, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Hygiene & Epidimiology,  with Prof. S. Hadjichristodoulou (President of EODY) and Dr G. Rachiotis (Professor of Occupational Health, Univ. of Thessaly). 

The participants agreed on the development of a work-group of mental health experts to support and study the effects of climate change and resulting disasters especially in mental health, including trauma, substance use, and intimate partner violence.

The Representatives of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), Dr P.Candilis and Dr V.Pozios, and the President of the Hellenic American Psychiatric Association (HAPA), Dr G.Karampoutakis, met with the Mayor of the Rigas Feraios Municipality, Mr D.Nassika and his psychology/social work staff, who made two presentations on the effects of the disaster on the local community. Resilience protocols and a debriefing program were identified as critically useful for supporting emergency personnel on the front lines.

Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association representatives and the Hellenic American Psychiatric Association  in Mental Health Center, in Volos, with the Hospital’s director Mr Giannis Ntokos, the Scientific Manager of the Mobile Unit of the NGO “DIODOS”, Mr. Houstoulakis, and Mr.  S. Papageorgiou.

The participants emphasized the usefulness of templates for a regional needs assessment given the challenges of annual floods and fire.

Meeting with Mr. S. Papageorgiou, the Director of the 5^th Regional Heath Authority in Larisa, where it was emphasized the Authority’s interest in disaster protocols and resilience training like that provided by the George Washington University Global Mental Health Program

A presentation of data and interventions by Prof of Neurology Mr Th. Dardiotis (neurology staff of NGO ”EPAPSY”) and the NGO “The Smile of the Child” also took place and demonstrated the capacity of the region to provide intervention even under dire circumstances

Meeting of representatives of the American Psychiatric Association and the Hellenic American Psychiatric Association, HAPA with the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Mr. Chistos Triantopoulos with the ultimate goal of providing expertise in the field of responding to natural environmental disasters and crisis situations, with regard to the mental health of citizens and those involved in management.