Mobile Mental Health Units in Heraklion Crete 2013–2022: Progress, Difficulties and Future Challenges

Mobile mental health units (MMHUs) have been proposed as an effective model to serve the needs of remote underserved areas. In 2013, Department Psychiatry, University Crete, started a pilot MMHU cover rural areas Heraklion Prefecture. The main objectives were early detection, prevention and therapy patients with severe psychiatric disorders, without access regular care. addition visits primary care centers, community support network was established. During this 10-year period, has evaluated 3343 performed 19,935 visits. most frequent diagnoses are depression anxiety (52.7%) whereas psychosis bipolar disorders third (12.7%) fifth (4.7%). Half depression/anxiety older than 65 years one living alone. Furthermore, first visit severely mentally ill about 15 later from self-reported onset psychotic symptoms. We discuss how improve our ability detect intervene earlier in illness, address effectively, both pharmacologically psychosocially, loneliness individuals small communities.