Community Psychiatry in Rural Greece: The Role of the Mobile Mental Health Units

Dear Colleagues,

Despite major progress in community psychiatry and service delivery over the last decades, it is widely recognized that rural and remote areas do not receive adequate mental healthcare due to various reasons. In rural Greece, the model of the Mobile Mental Health Units (MMHUs) was introduced in the early 80s, and expanded in many rural areas of the mainland and in several of the numerous Greek islands over the decades. The MMHUs are interdisciplinary teams that deliver generic mental health services in remote and deprived areas. They are low-cost services that are fully integrated within local primary healthcare settings. However, their work, albeit noteworthy, has been rarely published. The present Special Issue is a great opportunity for the MMHUs to present their work. Indeed, this model of mental health care delivery is unique, thus this Issue would be of interest for an international readership. Also, this model of care is relevant, as funding for mental health may be inadequate in several countries, and low-cost, yet effective services would be prioritizing by mental health policy in rural areas which lack highly-resourced specialized services.

The aim of our Special Topic is to focus on recent advances in mental healthcare delivery by the MMHUs in rural areas of Greece; and to stress the challenges in delivering services in those areas.

Original research, review articles, and perspectives related to this Special Topic are welcome, from clinical research to multidisciplinary clinical management.

Potential themes relevant to this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Care for patients with severe mental disorders

Promotion of mental health in rural areas

Care for special populations, such as refugees and immigrants

Mental health care for children and adolescents

Dr. Maria Samakouri
Dr. Ioanna V. Papathanasiou
Dr. Orestis Giotakos
Dr. Vaios Peritogiannis
Guest Editors

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