Free stress relief in Thessaloniki
A group of psychiatrists and psychologists in Thessaloniki are offering pro bono services to city residents as part of a pilot program organized by the northern port city?s local administration. The volunteer initiative was developed after a group of specialists observed a rise of up to 30 percent in visits to mental health practitioners compared to last year, due to the ongoing crisis.
The municipality?s Department of Social Policy and Solidarity and the Ego Ideal Institute of Mental Health have put together a support network based on groups of 15 people attending a six-week program led by 12 specialists starting on November 21.
According to participating therapists, those seeking psychological support are not necessarily people who have lost their jobs, but mostly men experiencing feelings of major uncertainty regarding the future. The specialists estimate that the crisis primarily affects men who feel that their role of family provider is under threat.
