Mantoudi – Limni – Agia Anna: CAMHI Visits the Remote Communities of Evia

As part of its collaboration with the Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) of Regeneration & Progress, the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) visited the Municipality of Mantoudi–Limni–Agia Anna from April 18 to 21, 2026. The visit centered on the Mantoudi Health Center, with close engagement with local educators and healthcare professionals. CAMHI was represented by its member Efi Kapsimalli, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist.

Field Meetings

During the visit, meetings were held across various communities in the municipality.

At the Mantoudi Health Center, a presentation was delivered on CAMHI's training program in screening for child and adolescent mental health problems, aimed at healthcare professionals — including pediatricians, general practitioners, and rural physicians — with the participation of 2 general practitioners, 3 rural physicians, and 2 nurses.

Two meetings were also held with educators: one at the Mantoudi General High School, attended by 9 teachers, and one at the Mantoudi–Kirinthos Primary Schools, attended by 12 teachers and a psychologist. In both cases, CAMHI's program and its mental health literacy training for school staff were presented, followed by open discussion.

At the kindergarten, primary school, and middle school of Prokopi, as well as the Pilio Primary School, 14 educators and one school nurse took part and were informed about CAMHI's training program for school staff.

Community Challenges and Needs

Field discussions brought to light structural challenges affecting access to mental health services in the area. Among the issues raised were significant gaps in available social services, difficulty managing complex cases, and the absence of child psychiatric coverage, making referrals after a positive screening particularly difficult. The most pressing needs identified included mental health intervention services, parent support groups, expanded child psychiatric coverage, early identification of neurodevelopmental difficulties, and strengthened support from KEDASY/EDY services.

At the same time, promising practices emerged: a parent group operating successfully in collaboration with the Chalkida Center and the Prokopi Primary School was highlighted as a model worth building on. Equally encouraging was the discovery of an outdoor philosophy classroom at the Mantoudi High School, an initiative that reflects the creativity and sensitivity of the local educational community.

Community Response

The response from educators and healthcare professionals was warm. A teacher at Mantoudi High School noted: "Using clear, accessible language and drawing on her scientific expertise, CAMHI's representative strengthened us in our work, answering our questions and encouraging collaborative, experiential initiatives within the framework of the National Curriculum. We commend the effort to reach educators in provincial and island schools through in-person outreach."

Field presence enables a deeper understanding of real needs, strengthens the connection between health and education, and lays the groundwork for more sustainable forms of support in the future. The joint presence of CAMHI and the Mobile Medical Units represents another step toward equitable access to mental health prevention and care for children and adolescents, regardless of where they live.



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.