The 8th event titled “Caregivers and Depression” was successfully held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the French Institute of Greece (31 Sina Street, Athens), with free participation and the option to attend online.
The event was organized by the Greek Carers Network EPIONI, continuing its mission to inform, empower, and support informal caregivers of people living with chronic illness or disability.
It was held under the auspices of the Region of Attica, the Hellenic Psychiatric Association, and the Hellenic Brain Council, in collaboration with several mental health organizations.
In his opening remarks, Professor Georgios Christodoulou, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and President of the European Association of Professors Emeriti, emphasized the importance of supporting caregivers who experience psychological fatigue and the risk of depression, describing them as the “forgotten workers.” He also invited attendees to the 4th International Conference of the European Association of Professors Emeriti, to be held June 11–13, 2026, at the University of Athens.
Anastasios Samouilidis, representing the Greek Patients Association, highlighted the need for integrated care policies and closer collaboration between health professionals and caregivers.
Maria Karamitsopoulou, from the Office of Civil Society of the Municipality of Athens, stressed the importance of cooperation between local government and citizen organizations to support caregivers.
Taulant Jupe, MD, PhDc, Psychiatrist at the Multipurpose Mental Health Nursing Unit of Attica, presented on “Clinical Depression: Diagnosis, Causes & Treatment,” analyzing the clinical characteristics of the disorder and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
Dr. Th. A. Vontetsianos, MD, PhD, President of the Hellenic Society for Innovation in Healthy and Active Aging, together with Evangelia Sali, volunteer of the “I Care” program, presented the experience of the Integrated Care Program of the Municipality of Athens. They emphasized that addressing depression is an integral part of holistic care, requiring psychosocial support for both patients and caregivers, underlining that “if the caregiver does not care for their own mental health, they cannot effectively care for the patient.”
Dr. Stavroula Rakitzi, Clinical Psychologist certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), delivered a presentation on “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Recovery from Caregiver Depression.” She emphasized that recovery is not only a therapeutic outcome but also a process of self-awareness and redefinition of the caregiver’s role. She underlined how CBT strengthens resilience, boundaries, and self-care, helping caregivers “transform sadness into action for life.”
Dr. Kalliopi (Kelly) Panagiotopoulou, Allergist–Psychotherapist, in her talk “The Depressive Face of Caregiving,” described the double trauma—physical and psychological—experienced by caregivers. She presented data revealing high levels of psychological strain, depression, and stigma, and proposed institutional measures and psychoeducation groups for prevention. As she noted, “caring for people with mental illness is a responsibility of the state and the community, not only of the family.”
Elsa Dimopoulou, Psychologist–Psychotherapist representing the Region of Attica, spoke on “The Right Steps to Address Caregiver Depression,” emphasizing that caregiving begins with self-care. She explained that maintaining physical and mental balance is essential for effective caregiving and encouraged caregivers to seek help without guilt.
Katerina Aranitou, Clinical Psychologist at the 414 Military Hospital of Special Diseases, presented “Support for Caregivers of People with Depression.” She described caregivers as “hidden patients” and discussed practical ways to enhance their psychological resilience through psychoeducation, social support, self-care, and artistic expression, highlighting that “self-care is not a luxury but a necessity.”
The event concluded with a lively dialogue and exchange of experiences among participants, reaffirming the need for continuous training, support, and recognition of caregivers as a cornerstone of the healthcare and mental resilience system.
The Greek Carers Network EPIONI warmly thanks the event sponsors:
Saronic Nephrology Center and Pfizer.
We also thank our media sponsors:
🔗 DailyPharmaNews.gr
🔗 PsychologyNow.gr
🔗 Iatronet.gr
📺 You can watch the recorded event on our YouTube channel.
Τo «Ελληνικό Δίκτυο Φροντιστών ΕΠΙΟΝΗ» είναι ένα μη κερδοσκοπικό σωματείο που ιδρύθηκε το 2017 και επιδιώκει να ενισχύσει την αναγνώριση της ανεπίσημης φροντίδας που παρέχουν οι συγγενείς ή φίλοι ενός ατόμου με χρόνια πάθηση ή αναπηρία και να εκπροσωπήσει και να δράσει για τους φροντιστές και τους πρώην φροντιστές, ανεξαρτήτου ηλικίας και ιδιαίτερων αναγκών.
Οι κύριοι στόχοι σύμφωνα με το καταστατικό περιλαμβάνουν:
To Ελληνικό Δίκτυο Φροντιστών ΕΠΙΟΝΗ φιλοδοξεί να επιτύχει τους στόχους του:
Η ΕΠΙΟΝΗ προωθεί πρωτοβουλίες που απευθύνονται σε νέους και ενήλικους φροντιστές. Ενθαρρύνει την εκπαίδευση, την συμμετοχή, τις εθελοντικές δράσεις, την κινητικότητα και την πληροφόρηση των ανεπίσημων φροντιστών στην Ελλάδα.
Απευθύνεται σε άτομα που λόγω του ρόλου τους ως φροντιστές έχουν περισσότερες ανάγκες στήριξης και ενδυνάμωσης.
Η ψυχική ανθεκτικότητα αποτελεί θεμελιώδη παράγοντα για τους συγγενείς φροντιστές ατόμων με χρόνια πάθηση ή αναπηρία, οι οποίοι συχνά βρίσκονται
The 8th event titled “Caregivers and Depression” was successfully held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the French Institute of Greece (31 Sina Street, Athens), with free participation and the option to attend online. The event was organized by the Greek Carers Network EPIONI,
