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1. National strategy(ies)

2. Improving the mental health of young people

National strategy(ies)

There are no top-level strategies and other policy measures addressing the mental health of young people in Cyprus, including suicide prevention measures. As described in Section 7.8, a Strategy for the mental health is under development. 

In Cyprus in 1997, the "Psychiatric Care Law" (Ο περί Ψυχιατρικής Νοσηλείας Νόμος του 1997) was passed, which was subsequently amended in 2003 and 2007. This law provides for the establishment and operation of Psychiatric Centres for the care of mentally ill individuals, the safeguarding of the rights of these individuals and the definition of the duties and responsibilities of their relatives. The approval by the House of Representatives of this law has been a major advance in psychiatric reform, particularly with regard to the protection of patients' rights, the implementation of de-institutionalization and the promotion of community psychiatry in Cyprus.

There is not a suicide prevention strategy in Cyprus, either as a standalone document or as an integrated element of another national policy/plan.

Improving the mental health of young people

Available top-level policies, programmes, projects or initiatives addressing the mental health of young people in Cyprus are the following:

The Mental Health Services offer a number of services for young adults, adolescents and children in all districts of Cyprus. These are:

For adults:

• Psychiatric Clinic
• Community Services
• Vocational Rehabilitation Unit
• Day Centre
• Psychotherapy Department
• Mental Health Services in Central Prison Department

For adolescents and children:

• Inpatient Unit for Adolescent’s hospitalization: hospitalization of teenagers with serious psychiatric and psychosocial problems
• Services Consultation – liaison child and adolescent psychiatry: psychiatric and psychological assessments, management and treatment to children and young people (up to 17 years). The liaison child and adolescent psychiatry deals with cases where mental health issues / emotional and family distress result from acute, chronic or life-threatening illness and disability as well as when mental health and emotional problems present as physical symptoms. 
• Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Centre: outpatient assessment, treatment and care for children and young people, up to the age of 18, with severe physical and psychological problems relating to eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating, and food refusal.
• Prevention and psycho-social intervention centre: services for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation to children, adolescents, and their families. Interventions include the family environment and the school context.
• Inpatient Unit for Adolescent’s in Addiction: adolescents with addiction problems that present delinquent behaviour, severe mental disorder and a court order is pending for their obligatory examination, can be hospitalized.

For more information about each of the above services, please visit the Mental Health Services official website available in Greek and English.

The Educational Psychology Service (EPS) preventive programmes: According to the Ministry’s 2021 Annual Report (p.143), the EPS’s mission is to protect and promote mental health and facilitate learning and development by empowering all pupils within the educational system, from preschool to the end of secondary education. The provided supportive programmes, interventions and psychoeducation trainings were developed and delivered to prevent school failure of learners and deal with psychological health issues. Examples include stress management, dealing with difficult behaviour, anger management, prevention of school violence and bullying, emotional literacy, promotion of self -confidence, internet addiction, transition from primary school to secondary school, diversity, conflict resolution, developing resilience and many more.

The Educational Psychology Service has three district offices in the towns of Larnaka, Limassol and Nicosia. Additionally, two sub-offices are operating in Famagusta area and Pafos to fulfill the needs of the local area.

“Perseas”/''Prometheas'' Addiction Counselling Centre for Adolescents and Families(Κέντρο Συμβουλευτικής Εφήβων και Οικογένειας για εξαρτήσεις «Περσέας»/»Προμηθέας») belong to the Mental Health Services and exclusively specialise in providing counselling and treatment interventions for substance addiction as well as addictive behaviors to adolescents and young adults. The centres respond to the specific needs of every adolescent / young adult from the age of 13 until the age of 22, and their family, through systematic group, individualized, family, intensive or short-term interventions. The main goal is that every family member will be able to develop and acquire more efficient ways of communication and relationships as well as useful coping skills for a dependence-free meaningful life. Therapeutic programmes target early intervention so that the adolescents’ / young adults’ course towards addiction from illicit (drugs), legal (alcohol) substances, or other addictive behaviours (gambling, internet) is blocked, and addiction is prevented. The services provided are free of charge and fully confidential.

At the same time, multiple NGOs specialise in providing support on particular mental thematic areas in Cyprus and offer their services independently.

There is not a top-level policy, programme, project or initiative for suicide prevention in Cyprus. Advice counselling and support to schools and communities following tragic and traumatic events are offered by the Educational Psychology Service of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, and the relevant educational psychologists are involved in crisis intervention on suicide of children, death of children, etc. However, prevention programmes organised by top-level authorities are not available.