Kassos: Traveling for Children's and Adolescents' Mental Health in the Borderland Dodecanese

From December 5 to 9, 2025, Kassos hosted a joint initiative by the Mobile Medical Units (MMU) of the NGO Regeneration & Progress and the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI), both supported exclusively by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of the SNF's International Health Initiative (IHI).

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.

Kassos, the southernmost inhabited island of the Dodecanese, covers approximately 66 square kilometers and has a permanent population of around 1,000 residents. Its main settlements — Fry (the port and administrative center), Agia Marina, Arvanitochori, Panagia, and Poli — form a small, tight-knit community where social relationships are direct and personal. Geographic isolation and limited connections to larger urban centers make access to specialized health and mental health services particularly difficult.

In this context, the presence of professionals in the field takes on special significance. During the visit, meetings were held with the two on-duty personal physicians and the midwife of the Regional Multi-Specialty Clinic, as well as with the Mobile Unit's pediatrician. A presentation was also given to health professionals on CAMHI's training program for mental health screening, aimed at strengthening early identification skills for the needs of children and adolescents.

Particular emphasis was placed on the school community, which serves as a key pillar of support on a small island. Meetings were held with school principals and teachers, along with an introduction to CAMHI's training programs and the "Mental Health Literacy" materials for school staff. A total of 12 teachers from the elementary school and the junior-senior high school participated in the activities, expressing strong interest while also sharing the challenges they face — including limited learning and psychosocial support options and the need for a stable framework within the local school reality.

A standout moment was the meeting with a group of 13 adolescents, ages 13–16, at the Youth Center in Fry. Centered on the topic "The Body in Adolescence, Others' Comments, and Body Shaming," the teenagers participated actively, shared their experiences and concerns, and highlighted the need for safe spaces for expression and discussion.

The visit also extended to early childhood education. At the kindergarten in Agia Marina, a meeting was held with the island's kindergarten teachers and a small group of parents, focusing on CAMHI's available free materials and ways in which families can support the socio-emotional development of their children. The presence of young children at the meeting highlighted the family and community character of such initiatives.

A meeting was also held with the island's Mayor, Mr. Erotokritos, and a presentation of CAMHI's goals was given. An online training session on mental health screening was additionally held, reinforcing continuity of support beyond the in-person visit.

"The experience in Kassos clearly confirmed that, in small island communities, mental health care relies not only on available services but above all on collaboration, trust, and networking among health, education, and local government," noted Ms. Kapsimalli regarding her visit, adding: "When prevention reaches places where options are limited, the community's response is immediate and meaningful."

The joint presence of CAMHI and the Mobile Medical Units in Kassos represents one more step toward equitable access to mental health prevention and care for children and adolescents, regardless of where they live — because even on the most remote islands, timely support can make a real difference.

• 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.