Greece – Mental Health

How is mental health generally viewed and talked about in Greece?

Stigma surrounding mental health represents a well-established challenge within Greek society. Research consistently documents moderate to high levels of stigmatising attitudes across various population groups, manifesting particularly as social discrimination, a tendency toward social distancing, and authoritarian perspectives on mental illness. For anyone relocating to Greece, this broader cultural backdrop matters — it influences not only whether individuals feel comfortable seeking professional support, but also how conversations about mental wellbeing unfold in everyday life.

Studies indicate that Greek populations tend toward medium-high levels of authoritarian thinking — meaning a tendency to view people with mental illness as inferior — while simultaneously scoring highly on benevolence, reflecting genuine compassion for those who are struggling. In practical terms, this creates a nuanced situation: people may express warmth and sympathy toward someone in distress, yet a reluctance to openly discuss personal mental health struggles or seek help without fear of social judgement can remain very real.

Systematic reviews have highlighted how pervasive mental illness stigma is within Greek culture, pointing to the need for targeted, culturally adapted interventions aimed at reducing it. By comparison with nations where sustained public campaigns — such as Australia’s “Beyond Blue” or the UK’s “Time to Change” — have been embedded in public consciousness for many years, Greece’s anti-stigma infrastructure is less developed, though the 2021–2030 National Action Plan explicitly sets out to address this gap.

The National Action Plan for Mental Health commits to guaranteeing universal access to mental health services and to eliminating stigma and social exclusion. Expats should be aware that younger and more highly educated Greeks tend to hold significantly less stigmatising views; research identifies age and educational attainment as the primary factors shaping attitudes, with younger, more educated individuals displaying a considerably more open and accepting outlook. In urban centres such as Athens and Thessaloniki, attitudes toward therapy and professional mental health support tend to be more accepting than those encountered in rural or island communities.

What mental health services are publicly available in Greece, and how does the system work?

Mental health provision in Greece falls under the umbrella of the ESY (Εθνικό Σύστημα Υγείας), the country’s National Health System. Responsibility for governance is distributed across three tiers: the central government (via the Ministry of Health), the regional health authorities known as YPEs, and municipal bodies. In practice, however, the central government holds the lion’s share of authority over funding structures and service organisation.

Building on the ten-year National Action Plan for Mental Health (2021–2030) formally introduced in March 2023, Law 5129/2024 on the “Completion of the psychiatric reform” received parliamentary approval in July 2024. The law’s central aim is to overhaul the governance and operational structure of Greece’s mental health institutions, therapy centres, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.

Under the legislation, a new legal body titled the “National Network of Mental Health Services” has been established, with the purpose of bringing together all public mental health units within the National Health System, private psychiatric clinics, and NGOs into a unified framework. This National Network is then subdivided into Regional Networks of Mental Health Services, functioning within the respective Health Region Directorates.

Despite these reforms, access to public mental health care remains deeply uneven across the country. Weaknesses in service coordination reflect the fact that national mental health provision lacks the structure of a stepped-care model — there are no clearly defined patient pathways, and integration between services and providers, which frequently operate in isolation from one another, is fragile. This stands in marked contrast to systems such as those in Germany or the Netherlands, where regulatory frameworks embed structured referral pathways and waiting time expectations.

The absence of formal gatekeeping mechanisms means patients tend to approach specialists directly rather than via a primary care referral. Meanwhile, GPs and primary care practitioners generally lack both the training and the professional culture to address mental health concerns adequately. Unlike some national health systems in which a GP referral is required before accessing psychiatric or psychological services, in Greece direct access to specialists is more common — though this applies most readily within the private sector.

Challenges are especially acute in community-based mental health provision, where an underdeveloped service network, a shortage of available options, and a dearth of specialists — particularly in rural areas — compound one another. Expats who settle outside Athens, Thessaloniki, or other sizeable cities should factor this reality into their plans from the outset and give serious consideration to private or online alternatives.

To find out more about accessing public mental health services, you can contact your local YPE (Regional Health Authority) or visit the Greek Ministry of Health website (available in Greek). Residents who are legally registered and hold an AMKA (social security number) are entitled to access the public health system.

Is private therapy or counselling available in Greece, and what does it cost?

For the majority of expats in Greece, private therapy represents the most dependable path to consistent mental health support. Session fees are reasonable by European standards, typically falling in the range of €50–€90, and private care is generally the most viable option given the constraints of the public system. These figures apply to standard 45–60 minute appointments as of 2025–2026; fees should always be confirmed directly with individual practitioners, since they vary according to location, the therapist’s level of experience, and the therapeutic approach being used.

In a broader European context, private therapy costs in Greece are broadly comparable to countries such as Portugal or Italy, and are considerably lower than equivalent private sessions in Switzerland, Germany, or the Scandinavian countries. These figures are based on 2025–2026 provider listings for typical 45–60 minute sessions; actual charges may differ depending on city, therapist qualifications, and therapeutic modality.

Private psychiatrists — who, as medically qualified doctors, are able to prescribe medication — generally charge higher rates than psychologists or counsellors. Doctors employed by public hospitals are permitted to conduct private consultations during afternoon hours at the hospital, and since 2024, ESY physicians are also allowed to maintain a private practice, which has broadened the pool of privately available practitioners.

No single regulatory authority in Greece publishes a standard fee schedule for private psychologists. The Panhellenic Psychological Society (SEPY) serves as the principal professional association for psychologists in the country. The SEPY website provides information on professional standards and enables verification of practitioner credentials. Before beginning treatment, always confirm that any private therapist you consult is appropriately licensed and registered with the relevant Greek professional body.

Are there English-speaking therapists or counselling services available in Greece?

Although the majority of therapists practising in Greece work in Greek, demand for professionals who can offer sessions in English has grown considerably, particularly among the international community. In Athens especially, finding a therapist who can provide care in English is becoming an increasingly important consideration for expats seeking mental health support.

Several directories and platforms are available to assist in identifying multilingual practitioners in Greece:

• Expat Therapy 4U (expatherapy4u.com) — a directory designed specifically to help people locate English-speaking therapists in Greece, with the facility to book appointments directly online in real time.
• It’s Complicated (complicated.life) — a directory with advanced search functionality for therapist identity. Language filters allow you to search for English-speaking or German-speaking therapists in Athens, and you can narrow results by therapeutic approach — including CBT, psychoanalysis, psychedelic integration therapy, sex counselling, and LGBTQI+-aware therapy. A free human-led matching service is also offered.
• AngloInfo Athens (angloinfo.com) — a well-established expatriate directory featuring English-speaking counsellors and therapists based in Athens, covering individual, couples, family, and online practice formats.
• Psychology Today Greece (psychologytoday.com) — Psychology Today’s international therapist directory, which includes a language filter that allows you to search for English-speaking practitioners in Greece.

As Greece’s international population has grown, so too has the number of mental health professionals equipped to work with clients in English. Beyond simply enabling clear communication, these therapists can often bring a cultural awareness of the expat experience that adds meaningful depth to the therapeutic relationship. The majority of English-speaking private practitioners are concentrated in Athens, though the widespread availability of online sessions means that physical location is a far smaller obstacle than it once was.

What support organisations or mental health charities operate in Greece?

A range of non-governmental organisations, charities, and community health bodies are active in Greece’s mental health landscape. The most significant of these are outlined below:

• Klimaka (klimaka.org.gr) — among Greece’s most prominent mental health NGOs, Klimaka runs a 24-hour suicide prevention helpline (1018) and delivers social reintegration programmes for people living with severe mental illness and other at-risk groups.
• Mental Health Europe – Greece — Greece is a participant in the Mental Health Europe network, which campaigns for rights-based mental health care across EU member states. Visit mhe-sme.org for broader European advocacy resources and policy information.
• METAdrasi (metadrasi.org) — while METAdrasi’s core focus is on migration and refugee support, the organisation also delivers psychosocial services that have been extended to expat and migrant communities living in Greece.
• The Smile of the Child (Χαμόγελο του Παιδιού) (hamogelo.gr) — provides child and family mental health services, including a helpline (116 000 for missing children, with psychosocial support also available). The organisation’s community-based units offer mental health services to children and adolescents who have experienced abuse or violence.
• Hellenic Psychiatric Association (EPA) (psych.gr) — the professional body representing psychiatrists in Greece, through which you can verify credentials and locate qualified psychiatric practitioners.
• Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) — MSF has conducted mental health programmes in Greece serving primarily refugee and migrant populations; their work has contributed to raising standards of psychosocial care in urban settings more broadly.

In March 2023, the Ministry of Health formally presented the National Action Plan for Mental Health — a ten-year strategy developed in cooperation with the World Health Organisation. The plan encompasses policies and interventions aimed at promoting, protecting, and strengthening mental health for all residents, with particular attention to vulnerable groups, and sets out to guarantee universal access to mental health services while working to eradicate stigma and social exclusion.

What should expats do in a mental health crisis in Greece?

Familiarising yourself with the available emergency resources before a crisis occurs is essential. Greece has specific services for psychiatric emergencies, though their capacity and language accessibility vary.

1. Call 112 — Greece’s universal emergency number (the equivalent of 999 in the UK, 911 in North America, or 000 in Australia), which can be used for any life-threatening situation, including a mental health emergency. Operators can connect you to ambulance services, police, or psychiatric support as needed.
2. Call 10306 — The dedicated psychiatric emergency and mental health crisis line operated within the National Health System. It links callers to community mental health centres and can coordinate urgent psychiatric assessment.
3. Call Klimaka: 1018 — Klimaka’s 24-hour suicide prevention and crisis support line, which is free and available at any time of day or night. This helpline operates primarily in Greek; if you require support in English, online crisis platforms (see below) may serve you better.
4. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department (Εφημερεύον Νοσοκομείο) — Public hospitals in Greece provide psychiatric on-call services. In Athens, both Evangelismos and Dromokaiteio (a specialist psychiatric facility) handle acute psychiatric emergencies. In Thessaloniki, AHEPA University Hospital has dedicated psychiatric emergency services.
5. Contact your country’s embassy or consulate — Where language presents a significant barrier, consular staff may be able to refer you to local English-speaking medical services or provide emergency assistance.

For English-language crisis support accessible from Greece, the following online resources are available:

• International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP): iasp.info — maintains a global directory of crisis centres, including those operating in Greece.
• Befrienders Worldwide: befrienders.org — offers emotional support and signposting to locally affiliated organisations in many countries.
• Crisis Text Line (international): Text-based crisis support accessible via crisistextline.org for those who would prefer not to speak on the phone.

Greece’s approach to crisis care differs from countries with dedicated crisis response teams — such as the NHS’s crisis resolution and home treatment teams in the UK or Australia’s mental health crisis assessment and treatment services. In Greece, acute psychiatric emergencies are typically managed within the emergency departments of general hospitals rather than through dedicated community crisis services, though the 2021–2030 action plan includes expanding community-based crisis support over time.

Are online or remote therapy options accessible from Greece?

The growth of online therapy platforms has opened up new possibilities for people in Greece to connect with qualified therapists regardless of where they are located. Improved internet connectivity across the country and a broader shift toward remote healthcare solutions have driven strong uptake of teletherapy — a development that is particularly significant for expats on islands or in rural areas where in-person English-speaking therapists may simply not be available.

Online therapy provided in Greece operates within a legal and ethical framework intended to safeguard both practitioners and clients. Licensed therapists delivering sessions via video or other digital channels are held to the same professional and ethical standards as those working face-to-face.

Internationally based teletherapy platforms are technically accessible from Greece, but there are practical considerations worth keeping in mind. Therapists should be aware of and equipped to navigate cross-border practice issues; depending on the regulations of their home country, practitioners licensed elsewhere may face professional restrictions when seeing clients based in Greece. For routine support, this rarely creates a practical problem, but it is worth clarifying your therapist’s position on this before committing to treatment.

The following widely used international platforms can be accessed from Greece:

• BetterHelp (betterhelp.com) — a US-based platform providing text, audio, and video therapy sessions with practitioners licensed across a range of countries.
• Talkspace (talkspace.com) — another US-based service offering subscription-based online therapy.
• It’s Complicated (complicated.life) — many of the therapists listed on this platform offer sessions online, and the directory’s filters allow you to search specifically for therapists offering online counselling, couples therapy, or coaching.
• Expat Therapy 4U (expatherapy4u.com) — connects clients with multilingual therapists experienced in working with internationally mobile individuals, with online session options available.

Greece’s primary care reform agenda also includes plans for telemedicine services to reach more remote regions, suggesting that teletherapy within the Greek public system may become more widely available in the coming years. The Ministry of Health website can be consulted for the latest developments on this front.

How do expats typically navigate health insurance for mental health treatment in Greece?

Expats in Greece who are not in local employment and therefore not enrolled in the state insurance system (EFKA) typically take out either international private medical insurance (IPMI) or a local Greek private health insurance policy. The extent to which these plans cover mental health treatment varies considerably and warrants careful scrutiny before selecting a policy.

Private insurance can help with the cost of private therapy, but coverage tends to be limited. A large number of standard international health insurance plans either exclude mental health benefits entirely or impose strict caps on them, often covering only psychiatric consultations — that is, medication management by a psychiatrist — rather than psychotherapy or counselling. When evaluating policies, pay close attention to the following:

• Whether psychotherapy and counselling sessions are explicitly included, rather than only psychiatric appointments
• Any annual caps on the number of sessions covered (limits of 10–20 sessions per year are frequently encountered)
• Whether a formal psychiatric diagnosis must be established before therapy sessions qualify for coverage
• Whether the policy distinguishes between in-network and out-of-network providers in Greece
• Reimbursement levels for private practitioners versus any direct billing arrangements that may be in place

Greece does not yet have a fully implemented mental health parity law comparable to, for instance, the US Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act or the disability provisions within the UK’s Equality Act. Policy researchers have identified strengthening mental health insurance coverage and expanding freely available public mental health services as priority areas for Greece to address. As of 2025, private insurers in Greece are not subject to the same degree of mandated parity obligations as those in certain other countries.

If you are employed in Greece and contributing to EFKA (the national social insurance fund), you are entitled to public health coverage, which includes access to public mental health services. More information on entitlements can be found at efka.gov.gr. For queries about private insurance, the Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies (ΕΑΕΕ) at eaee.gr is the relevant regulatory trade body. Always read your policy documents thoroughly and verify mental health coverage terms directly with your insurer before commencing treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I access public mental health services in Greece as an expat?

If you are legally resident in Greece and registered with both AMKA (the Greek social security and health number) and EFKA, you have the right to use the National Health System (ESY), including its public mental health services. In reality, however, public mental health provision is limited in scope — particularly outside the major cities — and waiting periods can be substantial. Most expats find it considerably more practical to use private practitioners or online platforms for regular mental health care, reserving the public system for acute or emergency situations.

Is it difficult to find a therapist who speaks my language?

While Greek-speaking therapists are plentiful, demand for English-speaking professionals has grown markedly, especially among the international community. In Athens and Thessaloniki, English-speaking therapists can be found through directories such as Expat Therapy 4U (expatherapy4u.com) and It’s Complicated (complicated.life), both of which support filtering by language. If you require support in another language, these platforms can also help. Outside the major cities, online therapy is the most reliable way to connect with a therapist in your preferred language.

How much does private therapy typically cost in Greece?

Fees are generally reasonable, running from approximately €50–€90 per session as of 2025–2026 for standard 45–60 minute private appointments. Rates differ depending on location, the practitioner’s experience, and the type of therapy offered. Some therapists operate a sliding scale linked to income — it is always worth enquiring. Confirm current pricing directly with your chosen therapist or practice before beginning sessions.

What do I do if I am having a mental health crisis in Greece?

Dial 112 for a general emergency, or 10306 to reach the psychiatric crisis helpline within the Greek health system. Klimaka runs a 24-hour suicide prevention line at 1018, which operates primarily in Greek. You can also present at the emergency department of your nearest public hospital, all of which have a psychiatric practitioner on call. Where language is a major barrier, your country’s embassy or consulate may be able to assist in accessing English-language support.

Is mental health stigma likely to affect my experience seeking help in Greece?

Research documents moderate to high levels of stigmatising attitudes in Greek society, particularly around social discrimination and distancing. That said, studies also point to a strong thread of benevolence and genuine concern for those experiencing difficulties. In practice, expats seeking private therapy are unlikely to face significant external obstacles, as private practices operate discreetly and professionally. The cultural dimension becomes more relevant when drawing on community or family support, where stigma may carry greater weight.

Will my private health insurance cover therapy in Greece?

This depends entirely on the specifics of your policy. Many international health insurance plans restrict or exclude psychotherapy and counselling, limiting coverage to psychiatric medication management. When choosing a plan, look explicitly for psychotherapy session coverage, check for annual session caps, and establish whether a formal diagnosis is required as a prerequisite. Confirm all details with your insurer directly. The Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies (ΕΑΕΕ) at eaee.gr can offer guidance on how insurance is regulated in Greece.

Are teletherapy platforms like BetterHelp or Talkspace available in Greece?

International platforms such as BetterHelp and Talkspace can be accessed from Greece provided you have a reliable internet connection. However, therapists who are based abroad may be subject to professional restrictions on treating clients internationally, depending on their home country’s licensing rules. For the simplest and most straightforward experience, consider opting for a platform that specifically features therapists authorised to work with clients residing in Greece, such as Expat Therapy 4U or It’s Complicated.

Is the Greek mental health system improving?

A meaningful reform programme is underway, anchored in the National Action Plan for Mental Health 2021–2030 and given legislative force by Law 5129/2024. The overarching goal is to dismantle outdated institutional care models and replace them with an integrated, recovery-oriented, community-based system of mental health services. Nevertheless, significant concerns remain about chronic underfunding and persistent staffing shortages within public mental health and psychiatric services delivered through the NHS. Expats are advised to base their planning on the current state of the system rather than its intended future form.