1. How easy was it to find an agency near you?

If there isn’t any agency nearby, how

far away is the closest facility?

Currently, my place of residence is a village devoid of any clinics or mental health agencies. The

closest mental health facility, located in the City of Nicosia, is quite a distance away,

approximately one and a half hours by bus. Known as The Psychiatric Institution of Athalassa, or

Athalassa Hospital, it is situated in Nicosia, Cyprus. This public institution, catering to patients

from all over the country, is the largest facility within the Inpatient Sector of Mental Health

Services (Action, 2021).

2. What types of services does this facility offer? Do they offer diagnostic services as

well as treatment? What variety of treatment or support is offered?

The Psychiatric Institution of Athalassa, Nicosia, Cyprus, strives to enhance mental wellness for

individuals of all ages by offering top-notch mental health services. Preventing mental health

problems and promoting high-quality mental health services in the areas of diagnosis, evaluation,

therapeutic interventions, and actions meant for rehabilitation at the hospital with an emphasis on

individualized patient care with the participation of all mental health professionals are the main

strategic goals. The interdisciplinary teams consist of a variety of specialists, including social

workers, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, and specialty psychiatrists. Additionally,

the hospital offers a closed ward for both men and women with chronic conditions.

At the moment, steps are being taken to progressively incorporate them into community

structures. The patient's faster and more efficient recovery and successful reintegration back into

society are the main objectives. In order to do this, social welfare concerns, patient care and

development, social skills, and the provision of a safe therapeutic setting are all taken care of as
needed. These are intended only for individuals. They also help businesses with a range of

initiatives that could enhance mental and behavioral health, like the Employee Assistance

Program, which consists of a set of sessions for staff members in need of mental health

consultations with therapists or psychiatrists.

The employer will not have access to the patient's personnel records because the patient's privacy

is absolutely guaranteed, programs for mental and behavioral health education and awareness,

programs for quitting smoking and stress debriefing for important events. The hospital also treats

patients with eating disorders brought on by mental illness, stress, or anxiety. They aid in

overcoming the eating disorder in conjunction with the guidance of a mental health professional

(Action, 2021).

3. What is the accessibility of this facility? Do they take insurance only? If not, what is

the cost? In your perspective, is there a way for someone who does not have a lot of

resources to be able to access?

Another aspect of this facility's accessibility is challenging. By the way, they take almost all

types of insurance. According to the Law for Psychiatric Care (with revisions) from 2003 and

2007, patients may be admitted either voluntarily or on a required basis. For example, Psychiatry

A comprises a Men's Acute Case Clinic (MACC) and a Men's Intermediate Closed Clinic

(MICC), Psychiatry B comprises the Women's Admission Clinic, and Psychiatry C includes a

mixed rehabilitation unit. All of these divisions fall under the same specialty.

As these facilities are non-profit (public), serve the national interest at the lowest possible cost,

and you can even get treatment after you can afford it, people who are unable to pay the bill are
granted access to treatment in accordance with the Cyprus Law for Psychiatric Care (Action,

2021). Depending on the terms of your contract, some insurers might contribute a certain

amount. According to my opinion, since we're talking about mental health, anyone who needs

assistance paying for treatment but has a problem should visit the facility.

4. Tie it all in. Based on your reading, what have you discovered about the accessibility

of mental health facilities and/or the stigma associated with accessing these types of

resources?

According to Knaak et al. (2017) states that the stigma associated with mental illness, including

that which exists within the healthcare system and among healthcare providers, creates

substantial obstacles to obtaining and receiving high-quality care. It is also a major source of

concern for healthcare professionals themselves, as it presents a challenge to workplace culture

and prevents them from seeking help when needed (para. 1). The likelihood of experiencing

discrimination in the social and professional spheres is a major obstacle. Some people fear

rejection or bad treatment from their loved ones. It is possible that they fear that becoming aware

of mental health issues will lead to discriminatory treatment and unfavorable opinions at work.

Discrimination against individuals who have received a mental health diagnosis in addition to

stigma and discrimination against mental health patients. There is evidence to support the idea

that broad anti-discrimination campaigns can increase demand. Stigma and discrimination

greatly affect people's ability to access medical (mental) care; the extent of this impact varies

based on the social context or whether or not the individual has ever experienced depression.
Psychotic illnesses, for example, can increase susceptibility to vulnerability and complicate the

prediction of an individual's behavior toward those with other mental health problems.

Furthermore, dementia is a very discriminatory illness. They are aware that the limited

accessibility of these resources, coupled with the fact that individuals with low incomes are less

exposed to mental illness and have less knowledge about these services, make them challenging

to use. This information exacerbates the prejudice against these people.

References

Action. (2021, November 2). Athalassa Hospital. Οργανισμός Κρατικών Υπηρεσιών Υγείας.

Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://shso.org.cy/en/clinic/nosokomeio-athalassas/#:~:text=The

%20Athalassa%20Hospital%20is%20the,amendments)%20of%202003%20and%202007.

Knaak, S., Mantler, E., & Szeto, A. (2017). Mental illness-related stigma in healthcare.

Healthcare Management Forum, 30(2), 111–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/0840470416679413