Amorgos: A Visit by CAMHI to the Island of the Big Blue

As part of its collaboration with the Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) of "Regeneration & Progress," the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) visited Amorgos from May 5 to 8, 2026. The visit centered on the Chora Amorgos Health Center, in close coordination with the island's school and healthcare staff.

Amorgos, the easternmost island of the Cyclades, combines a dramatic natural landscape with a vibrant local community and a full range of educational structures, from kindergarten through high school. Like other remote islands, however, it faces chronic shortfalls in health and welfare services that disproportionately affect children and their families. The visit was prepared ahead of CAMHI's arrival, in collaboration with teachers from all educational levels on the island.

Field Meetings

During the stay on the island, child psychiatrist and CAMHI staff member Efi Kapsimalli held meetings at three different settings.

At the Junior-Senior High School of Chora Amorgos, a two-hour meeting took place with 12 teachers. CAMHI's programme was presented alongside the training programme "Mental Health Literacy," aimed at school staff, followed by an open discussion focusing on school–family communication.

At the Chora Amorgos Health Center, a meeting was held with medical staff — one general practitioner and four rural doctors — during which CAMHI's training programme on "Screening for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems" was presented.

At the Katapola kindergarten, a three-hour meeting took place in two phases: first with 4 teachers, covering CAMHI's programme and the "Mental Health Literacy" training, and then with a group of eight parents, with an open discussion on parenting and boundary-setting.

Community Challenges and Needs

The field discussions brought to light structural challenges that directly affect access to mental health services on the island. Among the issues raised, the following stood out:

• The absence of social services and the difficulty of managing complex cases.
• The lack of mental health professionals in both the public and private sectors.
• A serious shortage of child psychiatric coverage, making referrals following a positive screening particularly difficult.
• The challenges of handling child protection matters in a small, close-knit community, where familiarity among residents can act as a barrier.
• The absence of specialists — speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists — means that any form of intervention can rarely follow assessments and diagnoses.

At the same time, one element that sets Amorgos apart from many urban environments came to the fore: life in a natural setting enables children to engage in free play with greater safety, while also supporting the well-being of the community as a whole.

The Response of the Local Community

CAMHI's reception from teachers, doctors, and parents alike was warm. Being physically present in the field allowed for a deeper understanding of the real needs of a community that combines geographic isolation with a marked lack of support services. Particularly noteworthy was the participation of parents in the Katapola kindergarten meeting, which demonstrated the demand for meaningful dialogue about parenthood on a remote island.

The joint presence of CAMHI and the Mobile Medical Units represents one more step toward equitable access to mental health prevention and care for children and adolescents, regardless of where they live.

• The Children & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) program is developed and implemented by a nationwide network of public-sector mental health organizations and professionals, in collaboration with the Child Mind Institute (New York) and with the support of the Ministry of Health. CAMHI is supported exclusively by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of the SNF's Global Health Initiative (GHI).
  
• The Mobile Medical Units (MMU) are an initiative undertaken by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) in collaboration with the Health Units S.A. (AEMY S.A.), within the framework of the National Primary Health Care Program, implemented by the NGO Regeneration & Progress under the scientific supervision of the 1st Orthopedic Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.