Greece Launches Programme to Protect Youth From Self Harm

The Greek Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF, has unveiled a pioneering national initiative to prevent and address self-harm among children and young people, following alarming data showing that one in six children in Greece has engaged in self-harm.

The National Action for the Promotion of Child and Family Health, presented today, includes multiple pillars tailored to age groups, developmental needs and the challenges faced by children and their families.

Pillar 1: Supporting Parents and Children Through Mental Health Programmes

The first pillar introduces a globally recognised mental health programme for parents and children, originally developed in Australia and implemented in more than 30 countries. Now available in Greece for the first time, it offers free counselling and therapeutic group sessions aimed at strengthening parenting skills and addressing challenges faced by both parents and children.
More than 500 families have already participated.

Pillar 2: National Strategy to Address Self-Harm in Youth

The second pillar focuses on tackling self-harm among young people. The Ministry of Health and UNICEF have established the Model Community Centre for Youth Mental Health at the First Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Athens, serving individuals aged 17–24.

The centre is already operating and provides:

• In-person and remote (telepsychiatry) services

• Clinical evaluations

• Individual and group psychotherapy for young people and their parents

• Additional specialised therapeutic interventions

All services are entirely free of charge.

Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidaki described the effort as a vital step in protecting young people and their families.

“The hardest and most valuable step we take in life is finding the strength to accept a painful truth,” she said. “Young people may appear constantly connected digitally, but many lack the meaningful relationships and real-life experiences needed to nourish their mental wellbeing.”

She emphasised that research shows young people suffer from serious mental health challenges, including self-harm.

“Every young person who self-harms must know they are not alone. A team of specialists is ready to listen and support them,” Agapidaki added. “Our goal is not just to provide treatment, but to help young people discover themselves, dream, and live the life they deserve.”

UNICEF’s diplomatic representative in Greece, Ghassan Khalil, praised the initiative as a crucial measure aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, calling it a European and global model for preventing and addressing self-harm.

During the programme’s presentation, experts outlined critical data:

• 1 in 6 children in Greece engages in self-harm

• Girls show higher rates and greater frequency

• Over 60% of young respondents know someone who self-harms

• 76% experience feelings such as sadness, anxiety, anger, or despair

• 62.7% struggle to manage negative emotions

Experts agreed the new services respond directly to the needs of young people, families, schools and health professionals by providing a coherent national framework for prevention and treatment.

Officials stressed that the Youth Self-Harm Response Programme is more than a public policy — it represents Greece’s commitment to safeguarding young people’s mental health, supporting families, and replacing silence and uncertainty with tools, knowledge and coordinated care.

The broader National Action for Child and Family Health is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility – Greece 2.0, with co-financing from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative.