Private and public mental health services in GreeceFind your way through.

Mental health difficulties are common in Greece, as they are everywhere. According to the European Commission and OECD's Country Health Profile for Greece, nearly one in five people in the country had a mental health issue in 2019, the third-highest proportion in the EU, with depressive disorders (around 7% of the population) and anxiety disorders (around 6%) the most common (OECD/European Observatory, 2023). The same report describes a long shift in how care is delivered: most large psychiatric hospitals have closed, and community services such as mobile units, day centres and community mental health teams have gradually taken their place. In 2023 the Ministry of Health introduced a ten-year National Action Plan for Mental Health (2021–2030), which aims to ensure universal access to mental health services and reduce stigma.

The report is also candid about the gaps. Out-of-pocket payments account for about one third of all health spending in Greece, and many people pay privately for care, including psychotherapy (OECD/European Observatory, 2023). In practice, this means that most people who want regular talking therapy, and especially therapy in English, look for it in the private sector or online, while the public system tends to focus on more severe and complex needs.

Greece has several national phone lines that are worth saving in your phone, even if you never need them:

Both 10306 and 1018 operate in Greek. If you would feel more comfortable in English or another language, the international directory findahelpline.com lists free, confidential helplines by country and can point you to services that suit you.

If you are studying at a Greek university, including on an exchange programme, your university is a good first stop. Many Greek universities run counselling centres for their students; for example, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki offers free counselling and psychological support to its students (AUTh), and the University of Patras runs a psychological and counselling support centre offering individual and group counselling (University of Patras). Ask the centre whether sessions are available in English.

Professional titles do not always translate neatly between countries, and the differences matter when you are choosing someone to work with.

Psychiatrist (ψυχίατρος)

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and monitor medication and decide on hospital treatment. If you think you may need medication, or already take it and need a prescription in Greece, a psychiatrist is the person to see.

Psychologist (ψυχολόγος)

In Greece, "psychologist" is a licensed professional title under Law 991/1979: it is reserved for people who hold a recognised degree in psychology and a state licence to practise. Psychologists may offer assessment, counselling and psychotherapy, depending on their further training.

Psychotherapist and counsellor (ψυχοθεραπευτής, σύμβουλος)

"Psychotherapist" and "counsellor" describe professional training in a talking therapy, usually a multi-year programme with supervised practice. Because the titles reflect training rather than a state licence, it is sensible to ask any practitioner what their training involved, which approach they use, whether they receive supervision and which professional bodies they belong to. A good practitioner will be glad to answer.

Whatever the title, research consistently shows that the quality of the working relationship between you and your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of a good outcome (Flückiger et al., 2018), so it matters that you feel understood and able to speak openly.

Many practitioners in Greece speak excellent English, but working therapeutically in a second language is not the same as conversing in it, so it is worth checking directly. When you contact someone, it can help to ask:

1. Do you work with clients in English, and how often?
2. What is your training, and what is your professional title?
3. Do you work in person, online or both, and at what times?
4. What is the fee, how long is a session, and what is the cancellation policy?
5. What happens if I need medication or more urgent help?

Online therapy widens the choice considerably, which matters if you live outside Athens or Thessaloniki or on an island. A 2023 meta-analysis of randomised trials found that treatment delivered by video was comparable with in-person treatment for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress (Shaker et al., 2023), although online therapy is not suitable when someone is in acute crisis or needs intensive care.