Greece

Services for people with intellectual disabilities in Greece can be described as versatile and based on both old and new structures, old, over‐crowded institutions co‐existing with new, alternative structures for independent living. Distinguishing features of the support system are limited financial resources, a strong orientation to medical categories in psychiatry and lack of specific services. There are still many people with intellectual disabilities being treated in mental health services. The gap in services is filled by informal networks, which face a crisis because of the increasing participation of women in the labour market. One of the major deficiencies of the present system is the lack of any sound knowledge of how many people with intellectual disabilities there are, who they are, how they cope with their disabilities and what services they use. This article gives an overview of the current situation.