Serifos: The First in a Series of Joint Actions with the Mobile Medical Units

On October 24 and 25, 2025, Serifos inaugurated a series of joint initiatives by the Children & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) and the Mobile Medical Units (MMU) of the NGO Regeneration & Progress, both supported exclusively by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

CAMHI was represented by a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and a member of its Scientific Coordinating Committee, Efi Kapsimalli, to strengthen prevention, early detection, and support for children's and adolescents' mental health on the island.

Serifos is a small Cycladic island covering approximately 75 square kilometers, with a permanent population of no more than 1,500 residents. Its main settlements are Livadi (the port), Chora, and a few smaller villages scattered across the island. Geographic isolation and the small size of the community make access to specialized health services limited and often difficult.

On an island like Serifos, where distances from specialized services are great and human resources are limited, the presence of interdisciplinary teams takes on special significance. The MMU's activities drew strong participation from residents at the Health Center, where examinations were carried out across different medical specialties. At the same time, the visit provided an important opportunity to open up community-level discussion around children's and adolescents' mental health.

Particular emphasis was also placed on the school community. Ms. Kapsimalli visited the Elementary School in Kato Chora, the Kindergarten in Panagia, and the Junior-Senior High School in Livadi, presenting the program and the training opportunities available to teachers. "The interest was strong, and the discussions were substantive," she noted, adding: "Teachers shared the everyday challenges they face, the initiatives they are already taking, and their need for more systematic support — with a key request being the creation of parent groups and guidance on managing complex cases."

The response of the local community confirmed that, in small communities, mental health care is not just a matter of services, but of relationships, trust, and collaboration. Being present in the field allows for a better understanding of real needs, strengthens the connection between health and education, and lays the groundwork for more sustained forms of support in the future.

Serifos clearly illustrated both the strengths and the challenges of small island communities. The Health Center operates with only one specialist pediatrician, rural physicians, and a limited nursing staff, who represent the most stable pillar of care on the island. Discussions with health professionals highlighted the need to strengthen early identification skills for mental health difficulties and the importance of actively involving nurses in future interventions, given the constant rotation of physicians.

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

Watch here the ARTE channel documentary on the volunteer doctors of the Mobile Medical Units in Serifos.

• CAMHI's 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. The Children & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative 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.