On Friday, October 11, 2024, the Greek Carers Network EPIONI successfully organized the 1st conference “Carers and Mental Resilience” at the French Institute, Sina 31, Athens, and online. The video of the Awareness event is uploaded here

The Deputy Mayor of Active Aging & Friendship Clubs of the Municipality of Athens, Ms. Olga Dourou, gave the opening address.

The conference featured esteemed speakers. Allergist and psychotherapist Kelly Panagiotopoulou spoke about the role of carers in mental resilience. Psychologist Spiros Bakas from K.S.D.E.O. “EDRA” discussed mental resilience within mental health services. Ms. Katerina Pappa, a caregiver, shared her experience as a professional caring for a person with mental illness.

Despoina Katsouda and Ada Paizi from the Society of Social Psychiatry P. Sakellaropoulos led an experiential self-care workshop focused on the role of self-care in strengthening the mental resilience of carers.

Psychologist and Employment Counselor Sofia Stouraiti, Sociologist and Employment Counselor Antonis Korfias from PEPSAEE – KHYAE Aigaleo, and Assistant Professor Nikos Drosos from the European University Cyprus addressed the issue of burnout among informal carers.

Dr. Stella Stathoulopoulou, psychiatrist, founder, and director of the Special Neurodevelopmental Clinic for Adults (ENIEA), spoke about autism in older age.

The President of the National Federation for the Rights of the Autism Spectrum (EODAF), Mr. Giannis Stavropoulos, discussed the rights of people with autism and their families in Greece.

The event also featured a video raising awareness about autism in older adults as part of the Erasmus+ Aha4Autism program.

The conference was organized in celebration of International Day of Older Persons (October 1, 2024).

Sponsors included Boehringer Ingelheim, Saronic Nephrology Center, Novartis, and Pharmaserve-Lilly.

Media sponsors were Social Policy, Iatronet, and Psychology Now.

The event was held under the auspices of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association.

October 2024, Athens, Greece: EPIONI activities and conferences. Photo: MARO KOURI/EPIONI

October 2024, Athens, Greece: EPIONI activities and conferences. Photo: MARO KOURI/EPIONI

October 2024, Athens, Greece: EPIONI activities and conferences. Photo: MARO KOURI/EPIONI

October 2024, Athens, Greece: EPIONI activities and conferences. Photo: MARO KOURI/EPIONI

October 2024, Athens, Greece: EPIONI activities and conferences. Photo: MARO KOURI/EPIONI

October 2024, Athens, Greece: EPIONI activities and conferences. Photo: MARO KOURI/EPIONI