Leros and the Greek mental health system

In 1983 the Greek Ministry of Health, in presenting the new mental health law, described the state of the mental health system in the country as follows: "it is generally recognised that the psychiatric services in Greece are totally inadequate. The treatment inflicted on patients is often approaching the negation of the fundamental notions of human dignity. A radical reform is intended to change this intolerable situation." (EC, 1984). Eight years on, the state of the Greek mental health services can be defined as continuing to be 'serious' despite the attempts to change it and to apply the reform.