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Mobile mental health units were first introduced in Greece in 1981 and they were later extended to geographically remote areas where there were inadequate mental health services, as part of the process of psychiatric reform. The key aims of such mobile units are to record needs; to provide timely diagnosis and intervention; to offer psychosocial support, counselling and psychotherapy to adults and children, as well as home interventions; to train volunteers; to liaise with local bodies; and to develop actions to promote mental health. Against that background, we present the experience from 10 years of running mental health units in the Northeastern and Western Cyclades. Emphasis is placed on the special features of this intervention in the local community on the islands, and the factors defining needs, as well as the requests which emerged. Clinical work is also presented and the special features of the psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions which were used are pointed out. Measures to promote mental health which were implemented are also described, and future targets for these sectors based on new socioeconomic circumstances are sketched.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-28616-7_10

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