Today’s marathon session of the Parliamentary Committee highlighted the need for immediate decisions, specific timelines, and a comprehensive mental health system that emphasizes prevention, early intervention, community-based care, and patient rehabilitation, was highlighted during today’s marathon session of the Parliamentary Health Committee, during which long-standing problems in the sector were discussed, with particular reference to Athalassa Hospital.
The statements made both during and after the session highlighted, among other things, the understaffing and overcrowding of the psychiatric ward, the lack of community-based and intermediate care facilities, problems in child psychiatry, the need to amend legislation governing psychiatric hospitalization, as well as issues concerning the management of cases involving individuals with autism and other vulnerable groups.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The Chair of the Health Committee and DISY Member of Parliament, Savvia Orfanidou, noted that this was the Committee’s second marathon session on mental health issues, a fact which, she said, demonstrates that the issue is one of the House’s priorities.
“We have heard a great deal today, and the ongoing problems in the field of mental health certainly do not reflect well on any of us or on Cyprus in 2026,” she said.
Ms. Orfanidou acknowledged the efforts of the Cyprus Mental Health Organization (OKYPY), noting, however, that more is needed to address the problems at Athalassa Hospital. As she explained, the Committee has received responses and timelines for the second and third phases of the projects and is now awaiting their implementation.
He made special mention of the understaffing and overcrowding at the psychiatric ward, noting that the lack of protocols, existing regulations, and the absence of adequate community-based structures lead to the pathologization of segments of the population who, as he said, should not be hospitalized in a psychiatric facility.
Among them, she mentioned children and adults with autism, people with eating disorders, and the homeless.
According to the Committee Chair, a different structure is needed for the inpatient care and treatment of these individuals, alongside the development of community-based services.
She also noted that the Committee has strongly raised the issue of amending the legislation and expects, based on the timelines provided, changes to the legislation regarding court orders and psychiatric hospitalization, as well as community care and the creation of relevant facilities, by the end of the year.
Ms. Orfanidou also addressed the stigma faced by individuals after their discharge from psychiatric hospitals, support for families, and prevention. She noted that having psychologists in schools is a priority, as is the creation of a national 24-hour hotline and the strengthening of the school nurse program.
When asked about the Parliament’s next steps, she said that the planning comes from the government and that the national mental health strategy is expected to be discussed at a separate committee meeting in the coming weeks. She noted that, among other things, the Committee has been informed that the 24-hour national helpline will be fully operational by the first quarter of 2027.
AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou, stated that today’s debate confirmed the findings her party has been highlighting for years, citing a prolonged situation of underfunding, understaffing, overburdening, and neglect of mental health services.
She noted that Athalassa Hospital has long been operating at its limits, with overcrowding, a shortage of adequate beds, delays in the development of community-based facilities, and the inability to rehabilitate and reintegrate patients—all of which create a vicious cycle that places a burden on both patients and staff.
At the same time, she noted that staffing levels in child psychiatry are insufficient to safely and effectively meet the needs of children throughout Cyprus.
Ms. Nikolaou emphasized that, while the problems are now widely recognized, what is needed is for someone to take responsibility and make immediate decisions. She described the promotion and completion of the second and third phases of the Athalassa Mental Health Center as imperative, while also raising the question of who will ensure the safe operation of services until the projects are completed.
He made special mention of decisions that, as he said, further undermine the hospital’s operations, such as the transfer of specialized healthcare professionals and the underfunctioning of critical community services.
AKEL, he added, is calling for an immediate increase in staffing based on actual needs, the full operation of interdisciplinary treatment teams at Athalassa, the strengthening and resumption of community services, the development of intermediate rehabilitation and supported living facilities, and a clear, binding timeline for the projects at the Mental Health Center, accompanied by an operational plan for the transition period.
“Mental health cannot be treated as the poor relation of the public health system,” he said.
ELAM MP Andreas Papacharalambous, noted that the problems in mental health services have been known for years and that what is needed now are not further findings but decisions and specific timelines.
He called for the creation of a comprehensive mental health system, including prevention, early intervention, community and residential facilities, rehabilitation, and effective 24-hour care.
He placed particular emphasis on mental health nurses, stressing that they are young professionals with many years of training who perform particularly demanding work. Therefore, she said, their compensation and working conditions must be substantially improved so that the profession becomes attractive to young professionals.
MP Litsa Drousiotou, of ALMA, noted that the issues raised at the session are not new and have been addressed by the Committee in the past, emphasizing that it is now time to move from identifying problems to concrete solutions and timelines.
As he said, mental health is not just about treating a person when they are in crisis, but requires a comprehensive system that begins with prevention and early intervention, ensures access to appropriate treatment, and continues with support and follow-up in the community.
He called for the implementation of a 24-hour hotline for immediate support and guidance, the strengthening of community services, social care, and in-home support where needed, as well as better coordination among health services, social welfare agencies, schools, local government, and other relevant entities.
At the same time, she emphasized the need to establish a clear pathway for patients within the system, so that they are not forced to move from one service to another in search of help.
Themis Anthopoulou of KYSOA noted that mental health has remained “the last wheel on the cart” for many years, arguing that this was confirmed once again by today’s discussion.
She focused particularly on the admission process at Athalassa Hospital, noting that it still involves court orders and transport by police patrol cars. As she noted, seven people with autism—two of whom are minors—are currently hospitalized at Athalassa, which she described as a neuro-sensory environment unsuitable for these specific cases.
He argued that, to date, there has been no adequate planning to address the problem, while families are bearing a heavy burden. At the same time, he criticized the lack of coordination among government agencies and noted that, despite the finding that autism is not a mental illness, no answer has been provided as to where these specific cases should be treated when they require inpatient care.
“These patients should not be admitted to the Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital,” he said, noting at the same time that there is no other appropriate setting for inpatient care.
Nikos Loizidis, from the ISOTITA Union, described to the Committee the procedure followed by the police when called upon to execute a compulsory examination order for a person with mental health issues, emphasizing that in many cases, police officers are called upon to handle such situations without a nurse present.
As he noted, police officers arrive at the residence in a patrol car, where they may need to use force or break down doors and apply handcuffs, and then transport the individual to the hospital and wait until they are examined by a psychiatrist.
He also described cases in which, following the examination, police officers are required to contact a judge and, if the person cannot remain in the hospital, they must transport them to a safe place or even to a police station, where they may end up sleeping on the floor or in a cell.
“This is Cyprus in 2026,” he said, adding that police officers are confronted daily with incidents of injuries, even inside patrol cars, when individuals with mental health issues realize they are outside a psychiatric hospital.
Mr. Loizidis emphasized that police officers are the ones who directly experience these situations, highlighting the need to change how mental health incidents are handled and to establish appropriate structures and procedures.
Source: CNA
