The Athalass Hospital was presented by the relevant authorities before the Parliamentary Health Committee as the final link and the entity bearing the brunt of the gaps and weaknesses in health services, with the Chief Nursing Officer of the Mental Health Services of OKYPY, Antho Giannapi, stating that the hospital functions as a “pool of Siloam.”

Committee Chair Savia Orfanidou noted that the issue will be discussed again in early September and asked the relevant officials to submit detailed memoranda and cleartimelines for the planned actions.

Mr. Giannapis noted, by way of example, in response to questions from Members of Parliament, that in 2025 there were 463 new admissions to Athalassa Hospital and 536 readmissions, as well as 14 new voluntary admissions and nine readmissions at the patient’s request.

He noted that 121 people are currently hospitalized at Athalassa Hospital under a compulsory hospitalization order, with the Financial Director of OKYPY, Roberto Karachannas, explaining that the flow of patients to the hospital—which is not controlled by the Organization—is due precisely to the issuance of compulsory hospitalization orders. Mr. Karachanna noted that due to a lack of appropriate facilities, the hospital is admitting everyone from drug addicts to the homeless.

In fact, Mr. Giannapis noted that staff can tell when there is a “tainted” shipment of crystalline methadone in Cyprus based on admissions to the hospital. Furthermore, as OKYPY spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou explained, staffing shortages at the hospital are also linked to overcrowding in the wards.

Mr. Giannapis also referred to the barriers created by the social stigma surrounding mental illness, noting that this is also a cause of readmissions, and explaining that families often sweep problems “under the rug” until the patient reaches a state of despair. He added, moreover, that due to stigma, there is often resistance from local communities when efforts are made to establish treatment facilities. As he noted, the stigma is worse than the disease itself, underscoring the need for societal interventions.

OKYPY Requests More Time to Implement Plans at Athalassa Hospital

The fact that Athalassa Hospital is burdened with the weaknesses that have been observed in the system for years was highlighted in their statements by the Chief Financial Officer of OKYPY, Roberto Karachannas, who noted that the Organization is essentially the recipient of the problem. He noted, however, that it is assuming its responsibilities and taking initiatives, acknowledging the validity of the Members of Parliament’s comments regarding overcrowding in the hospital wards, patients being accommodated on mattresses on the floor, and understaffing.

Noting that the OKYPY has acknowledged the problem, Mr. Karachannas stated that plans have been drawn up for a new, modern center and that these are being implemented. Regarding the second phase of implementing the building infrastructure plan, he said that the feasibility study had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance, that they had received some feedback, and that they were in the process of making adjustments. He noted that funding for the project has been approved, amounting to approximately €30–€40 million, as he stated. Regarding the timeline, Mr. Karachannas stated that it will become more specific after the project is put out to bid, which is scheduled to take place within the year.

A senior official from the Ministry of Finance subsequently noted that the Development Directorate has received a feasibility study from OKYPY and that it is being evaluated as a matter of priority. “We expect that, following the evaluation of the feasibility study, we will proceed with adding this specific project to the budget so that the call for bids can move forward,” she said.

Mr. Karachannas also explained the reasons that led to the evacuation of the old buildings at Athalassa Hospital, as structural deficiencies were identified following a structural engineering study. As he explained, the decision to evacuate was made with the safety of patients and staff in mind; they were relocated to the new buildings so that reinforcement work could be carried out on the older structures. “OKYPY will spend whatever is necessary to ensure that patients and staff are safe,” Mr. Karachannas assured.

For his part, OKYPY spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou stated that as part of the measures implemented by the Organization to relieve overcrowding at the hospital, following the evacuation of the old buildings, approximately 20 patients were discharged.

He also noted that plans are underway to secure additional beds for psychiatric patients, six of which, he said, are at Nicosia General Hospital. He further added that the number of compulsory hospitalization beds in Limassol will increase from eight to ten.

He also announced a partnership with the Christos Stelios Ioannou Foundation, which will accept low-risk cases and cases on the autism spectrum, with at least seven beds, while efforts are underway to secure more. Mr. Charilaou noted, further, that efforts are also being made to refer low-risk patients to other outpatient facilities, so that beds at the hospital can be made available for acute cases.

Mr. Charilaou emphasized the need for a holistic approach to managing mental health cases. As he said, OKYPY will focus in the near future on converting day centers into day hospitals, so they can offer more services and provide treatment to patients, thereby relieving the burden on Athalassa Hospital.

Moreover, Mr. Karahanas had previously pointed out that, because there is no provision for the mandatory administration of medication to psychiatric patients in Cyprus, relapses are frequently observed after discharge. In this context, Mr. Karahanas also emphasized that the involvement of other relevant agencies is necessary for a holistic approach, noting that Athalassa Hospital is just one link in the mental health services chain. “We have a vision, we have measures in place, we have implemented projects and will continue to do so, but we need time to carry out our plans,” he concluded.

The Patient Advocate, Marios Charalambides, confirmed in his remarks that mental health services are the “poor relation” of the system, acknowledging that a holistic approach has not yet been achieved and pointing out that other agencies, ministries, and services must also be involved.

He added, in fact, that he would visit Athalassa Hospital together with Mr. Karachanna on Friday, July 10, noting that the goal is to adhere to the timelines and agree on a framework to relieve overcrowding at the hospital, while ensuring that patients receive adequate care. 

A major gap in the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions among children and adolescents

Committee members, as well as invited guests, made special mention of the management of minors with mental illnesses. In fact, the President of KYSOA, Themis Anthopoulou, sounded the alarm by citing cases of minors on the autism spectrum who end up being hospitalized at Athalassa Hospital, due to a lack of other suitable inpatient care facilities,

Elena Perikleous, Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, emphasized before the Committee the need for a comprehensive approach to the issue, noting that the National Strategy lacks provisions for the inclusion of children and adolescents with mental illnesses.

She also noted that immediate legislative action is needed to require the consent of both parents for the provision of support to minors, while adding that the mental health of children and adolescents is not the sole responsibility of health services, but that cooperation among various services is essential, particularly at the school level, for timely intervention and prevention.

She then briefly outlined the four pillars set forth in her memorandum to the Committee, which concern the need for a national system for children and adolescents, for prevention and early intervention, for equal access to services, and for the development of specialized facilities for children and adolescents.

It noted that TENE, an inpatient clinic at Makarios Hospital where adolescents aged 12–17 with severe psychiatric and psychosocial problems, is not sufficient. He explained that there is a need for mental health nurses everywhere and that, for this reason, the provision of incentives or even scholarships for studies in this field should be considered.

Furthermore, Mr. Giannapis, responding to AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou, confirmed that, although there are 10 beds for minors at TENE, they are insufficient, and he emphasized that community-based services in all districts must be strengthened.

Evagoras Tambouris addressed the Committee regarding the role of the School Health Service, who noted that there are 119 school health visitors throughout Cyprus who are responsible for the life education program—which focuses on children’s self-image—and is provided in schools. More specifically, he discussed the results of the health visitors’ work at remote schools in Lefkara, Polemi, and Agro, noting that the results appear to be very positive and that the goal is to expand the program to more schools, prioritizing those with identified increased needs.

An official from the Ministry of Education stated that they are hopeful the Ministry of Finance will approve the 2028 budget for 60 school psychologists, since the request for 2027 was rejected; the Committee Chair and DISY MP emphasized that pressure will be exerted to secure funding as early as 2027.

As noted, the problems identified in the school environment have not only increased in number but have also become more severe, and there is no longer time for prevention, as the Ministry of Education’s services are called upon to address suicide attempts, incidents of substance abuse and violence, as well as extremely serious problems within the family environment.

Legislative gaps persist

During the meeting, special mention was made of the legislative gaps that have been identified over time regarding the provision of mental health services, with Committee Chair Savia Orfanidou noting that these shortcomings have been highlighted within the Health Committee for at least seven years.

Niki Ierodiakonou, who informed the Committee that she has served as Deputy Director of Mental Health Services since July 1, said that a preparatory committee is currently being formed to draft legislation regarding the provision of mental health services. DISY MP George Pamporidis, requested that officials from the relevant Ministry Directorate attend the Committee’s meetings for items on the agenda, so that full information can be provided.

Furthermore, Mr. Pamporidis highlighted a gap regarding the care of patients discharged from the hospital, asking Mr. Giannapis whether their relatives are required to take on that care, to which he received a negative response. Moreover, as Mr. Giannapis noted, the patients’ relatives are already affected by the consequences of the patient’s illness, having lived with them for years without treatment.

A legislative gap was also identified during the remarks by Eleni Karagianni, an official from the Deputy Ministry of Welfare, when the issue of reintegrating patients into the community was raised. Ms. Karagianni noted that responsibility in this area is transferred to the Social Welfare Services, yet there are no suitable facilities or specialized structures staffed with medical and nursing personnel.

The focus of the discussion was on who bears the responsibility for creating such facilities, with Ms. Karagianni noting that the Deputy Ministry lacks the necessary expertise for this. The Committee Chair called for a compromise to be reached and for the executive branch to take responsibility for resolving the issue.

Furthermore, Maria Stefanou, a member of the Committee for the Supervision and Protection of the Rights of People with Mental Illness and a relative of a person with mental illness, highlighted the difficult situation faced by the families of patients who have been discharged, noting that the rooms where they live often end up resembling small institutions. She said that these cases essentially involve chronically ill patients and added that their families are “always in the shadows,” even though they have a very important role to play, yet receive no support. “We want to play an active role in shaping the National Strategy; we don’t want a token role,” said Ms. Stefanou.

Moreover, Michaela Markou, speaking on behalf of OSAC, noted the observed increase in complaints from people with mental illness, while expressing her certainty that the actual number is even higher but goes unreported due to the stigma surrounding mental illness.

The Committee Chair announced that the meeting on this same topic would continue on September 10 with the same participants, as several of the invited guests had not had the opportunity to speak, and she requested that, by that time, detailed briefs and clear timelines be submitted regarding the actions planned by agencies and organizations.

“No country and no state can cut corners when it comes to mental health issues,” Ms. Orfanidou said in remarks following the meeting, adding that “it is the greatest scourge of our century and the biggest problem among the younger generation.”

She noted that updates and action were requested regarding the Athalassa Hospital and the completion of Phase II, as well as issues of overcrowding and inadequate supervision, as well as the removal of patients who should not be at Athalassa Hospital, such as the homeless, individuals on the autism spectrum, and those with anorexia nervosa.

She also emphasized the need to amend the bill on psychiatric hospitalization as well as community care, while also referring to prevention efforts, school nurses, and psychologists.

“We demand immediate solutions. We demand to see results immediately. Mental health issues concern all of us, and all of us in positions of responsibility must contribute positively and constructively to this effort. But at the end of the day, the state and the government, which bear the responsibility, must carry out this difficult task,” she concluded.

AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou stated in her remarks that the debate confirmed serious shortcomings in infrastructure, staffing, and policies for prevention and early intervention. She expressed concern about the current state of mental health services for children and adolescents, noting that access to these services is linked to quality of life.

“Our country still lacks sufficient specialized treatment facilities for the timely management of serious cases,” she said, adding that “the only child psychiatry inpatient unit, TENE, has only eight beds, which are insufficient to meet actual needs; as a result, many children and adolescents do not receive the necessary treatment at the right time, causing their problems to worsen and leading many to end up later at Athalassa Hospital or even at other state facilities such as the Social Welfare Services, which are not mental health treatment facilities.”

Regarding Athalassa Hospital, he said that “it is the most telling evidence of the state’s failures” and that “the situation there has now taken on the characteristics of a humanitarian crisis, a crisis that exposes the failure and inadequacy of both the government and OKYPY NA to address the basic needs of one of society’s most vulnerable groups, the mentally ill.”

DIKO MP Andreas Apostolou stated that, while there has been an improvement in services supporting other patients, in the area of mental health, the necessary steps have not been taken, whether in terms of hospitalization, social welfare, or reintegration. “We now want to see results not only from the Ministry of Health but also from the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, because the complaints heard today—mainly from organized associations representing people with mental disabilities—are extremely serious,” he concluded.

ELAM MP Andreas Papacharalambous, noted in his remarks that mental health and patients’ rights are at a critical juncture, that the infrastructure does not meet the needs of the times, while people’s need for psychiatric support is growing daily due to demographic and epidemiological trends.

“More citizens are seeking help every day, more families are looking for support, and more cases require immediate and specialized intervention,” he said. “Without downplaying the situation or giving in to fatalism—because the truth is that professionals in the field, as well as OKYPY, are making commendable efforts— the truth is that mental health services continue to operate with severe staff shortages and insufficient resources,” he added. ““Understaffing leads to delays, burnout among professionals, limited access to care, and people being left without the support they are entitled to,” he said, concluding that “mental health is not a luxury; it is a priority; it is an inalienable fundamental right.”

Litsa Drousiotou, a member of parliament for the Alma Movement, Litsa Drousiotou, stated that good intentions and declarations alone are not enough and that decisions, funding, staffing with specialized personnel, and specific timelines are needed. 

She emphasized that “mental health is not a secondary issue; it is a matter of human rights, social cohesion, and respect for human dignity,” and that for this reason “the state will be judged not only by its announcements but by how it cares for our most vulnerable fellow citizens,” adding that “in this area, there is no further room for delay.”

Yiannis Laouris, a member of parliament for Direct Democracy, noted during the session that mental health is a measure of civilization. He mentioned that there are dozens of organizations involved in this issue and dozens of measures that need to be taken, adding that the only way to solve the problem is for the relevant stakeholders to come together through structured dialogue for the sake of coordination.

Source: CNA