Emergency Relief Packages to4.750 Families in need

 _________________________THE PROBLEM WE DEAL WITH _cases of beneficiaries

Greece is currently grappling with a concerning intersection of child and youth hunger, mental health deterioration, and rising suicide rates. Economic instability, food insecurity, and inadequate mental health infrastructure have created a crisis that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly adolescents and children. This report synthesizes recent data and expert insights to highlight the scope of the issue and recommend urgent interventions.

1. Rising Suicide Rates and Youth Vulnerability

In 2024, Greece recorded 469 suicides, marking an increase from 451 in 2023. Men accounted for 86% of these cases, with the highest rates observed among individuals aged 50–54 and 20–24. Notably, 12% to 16% of adolescents aged 14 to 19 exhibit self-harming behavior, indicating a heightened risk of suicide in this demographic .Ελευθεροτυπα+4Millet News+4tovima.com+4

The World Health Organization reports that one in four young adults in Greece (ages 15–29) suffers from a mental health disorder. Alarmingly, self-harm ranks as the sixth leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 14 and 15 to 19 .Ελευθεροτυπα

2. Hunger and Food Insecurity as Mental Health Stressors

Food insecurity in Greece affects approximately 6.6% to 8% of the population, with children being particularly vulnerable. Research indicates that childhood hunger is linked to increased risks of depression and suicidal ideation during adolescence and early adulthood .ResearchGate

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity due to economic disruptions, leading to heightened stress and mental health challenges among youth. UNICEF's 2023 survey revealed that global crises, including economic instability and the pandemic, have significantly impacted the mental well-being of young people in Greece .ResearchGateUNICEF

3. Refugee and Migrant Youth in Crisis

Children residing in Greek migrant camps face dire conditions, leading to a surge in self-harm and suicide attempts. Reports document instances of children as young as nine engaging in self-harm, with some attempting suicide due to the "endless misery" of camp life .Ελευθεροτυπα

4. Structural Barriers and Underreporting

Greece lacks a comprehensive system to record suicide attempts resulting in hospitalization, leading to significant underreporting. Estimates suggest that for every suicide, there are 20 to 30 unsuccessful attempts . Additionally, the absence of a National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention hinders coordinated efforts to address the crisis .Millet News+1Ελευθεροτυπα+1Millet News+2Ελευθεροτυπα+2tovima.com+2tovima.com

5. how we Help

To mitigate this crisis, the following actions are recommended:

• Implement a National Suicide Prevention Strategy: Develop and enforce a comprehensive plan focusing on youth and vulnerable groups.

• We Enhance Mental Health Services:  Integrate mental health care into primary health services, particularly in underserved areas.Scientifics all over the world reach our HUG Point either online or face to face weekly for numerous workshops, therapies and therapeutical systems to accurately track suicide attempts and related mental health issues
  

• Address Food Insecurity: We achieved to Expand social support programs to ensure children and families have access to adequate nutrition.

• Support Refugee and Migrant Youth: Improve living conditions in camps and provide targeted mental health support.Ελευθεροτυπα

• Improve Data Collection: For the Hospitals and clinics as the number of stuff has been eliminated to 1/10 , so practically its almost impossible to examine the emergency cases, as they arrive in handrents per day. Doctors in emergency collapse every day from fatigue.
  

• WHAT WE DID

• Food distributions and essencials is our 1st STEP to approach families in need

• GOTHERING PEOPLE so they get INTEGRADED is our step two, so we give mental help if is requiered.
  

• ART THERAPY as a stong tool of Integration of minorities or families who face a strong devaluation of their economical or health statue. We must absolutely mension that there are STILL NO MEALS at public schools in Greece. Stavros Niarchos Foundation at 2014 after recognising that the most efficient distributions with food packages , can be faster distributed through schools, supported much till now our efforts to give in parallel THERAPIES and food.

• THE PROBLEM WE FACE / HOW YOU CAN HELP : Unfortunately we lost this permanent support since the COVID Period, so we DO STRUGGLE FOR YOUR HELP to go on with

• school distributions, distributions of emergency relief packages, thath we prepare for

• natural disasters and

• kids or women victims of abuse. Ares clearly the three categories of people in need that we will never stop supporting.
  

Thus we struggle to finish as soon as possible the last constructions needed, to furnish and open a NEW HUG center for KIDS and WOMEN in despair need or both as Victims of Abuse that we cure, protect and take care.

Society lost the power, because we are not united

Our hearts need to remain connected, above all odds.

We love feel you by our site

Hope to see you soon in person! during your Holidays in Greece.

HUG Points are open for you to enjoy the sea , the sun and the mediteranean food.

We ll do our best you get the best memories, supporting our cause with your bookings

Warm Regards

Have a beautiful spring time!

Links:

• HUG POINT ATHENS book direct and get tax deductions
• child and adolescent mental health in Greece
• Adolescents' mental health _financial crisis

• a law providing disability pension to rape victims (PDF)
  

Dear friends and supporters,

The prolonged recession in Greece has taken a great toll on its people, especially children. Over the years, even the most hopeful, seem to have given up. 

There are so many cases of psychological problems among the people (psychosis as suicidal, borderline or dipolar behavor, selfharming too in our sunny country ... that we never experienced before the econ.crisis) which are serious desorders mostly due to the hunger that kids are experiencing the last 6 years!!!.

Currently, about 75% of children are already addicted self-harmers and there are constant cases of suicide in young adults aged 15-25. The menace is increasing daily as it has been noted that about 68% of the Athens population are self-harmers while in small towns and villages, the average is 30-50%. Most of these people have lost their mental health and 5-7% are suicidal.

Due to this economic crisis, Greece has become a sad society with no future for kids and youth.

Violence and Bullying occurs in and out of schools without abate, meals are no longer provided to children in schools. Hunger and despair has turned our youth to a sick and suicidal society. Young people no longer have dreams of the future and most resort to violence as a means to express their despair.

There is no more capacity in public mental health clinics, or even NGOs working on mental diseases for kids and teens in Greece. Due to the recent retrenchment of staff in the medical oversight board, less control and screening is exercised over the licensing process for medical practitioners. Professional therapists and Psychologists can now take their licenses without any control of the government, so there is a new generation of incompetent"professionals" who are unfit for the current health crisis. 

In paralel alimentation became a difficult issue as the previous cues experienced in super markets are a thing of the past as most homes can barely feed. Even the sales from the charity shop have dropped drastically to as low as 5-6 Euro per day. There is no support anymore from the local people and the charity shop has a lot of bills left unpaid.  

How we help

We leave Athens behind to visit small villages and towns with our mini vans and doctors, who offer

 essencials and medical help.

We are present to all areas were flood and fire victims suffer for a helping hand.

And the most important is that we keep giving online free pshycotherapy sessions to beneficiaries, so we keep in touch with their needs too, that we are struggling to cover, at least for the basics.

We plead for urgent assistance as the impact of this crisis is beyond what the current volunteers can provide. The percentage of needy people is too high, beyond the capacity of the Charity organisation. Currently, we do not have enough resources to cover even the essentials for kid’s nutrition. 

We urge you to help us keep them alive!

Food is an essencial right for every kid!

Warm thanks for your support,

Links:

• youtube channel of our efforts
• our HUG Foundation-on Facebook H.U.G. / Humans United Globally
• Kid&Family-Facebook