Cultural Rupture and Subjectivity: Tensions in the Personal and Professional Identity of Mental Health Professionals in Times of Crisis

Abstract

Greece is one of the European countries most affected by the socioeconomic crisis in Europe; in order to repay its growing debt, Greece has had to borrow under extremely strict conditions and to sign memoranda, agreeing to drastic cuts in public spending. The implementation of severe austerity policies has had a serious impact on welfare and health provision, as well as on several aspects of citizens' everyday life and welfare, leading to income reduction, social exclusion, job insecurity, unemployment, as well as increased physical and mental health problems. Between 2007 and 2016 the Gross Domestic Product in Greece decreased by 24.4%, with an associated decrease in the income of households and deteriorating living conditions for Greek citizens (Hellenic Statistical Authority, 2017a). According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (2017b), the risk of poverty and social exclusion in Greece increased from 28.1% in 2008, to 31% in 2011 and 35.7% in 2015, whilst in 2015 the relevant rates in the Eurozone was 23.7%. The rate of material deprivation (i.e. the percentage of the population that cannot afford basic home comforts) was 28.4% in 2011 and increased to 38.5% in 2016. Adult unemployment rates have exceeded the average European unemployment rate of 10%, approaching percentages of The impact of the financial crisis on healthcare in Greece has also been dramatic. Kentikelenis, Karanikolos, Papanicolas, Basu, McKee and colleagues (2011) summarize the situation and highlight the deterioration of access to healthcare, especially for vulnerable social groups. They report that in 2009, as compared to 2007, an increasing number of citizens opted not to visit doctors, because of practical difficulties and the deterioration of healthcare provision, such as for example long waiting lists, travel distance and inability to afford private medicine. The Greek healthcare system has suffered serious cuts (approaching 40% since 2010), which have led to understaffing and lack of medical supplies; at the same time, there are reports of increase in the number of admissions in public hospitals, a 24% increase between