From what I heard from the people, it’s very challenging.

Not only because of the weather – it’s cold, they dont have the basic needs covered – but also because of all of this sometimes can trigger a lot of passed situations - situations of violence, of sexual violence – there is no space for having privacy, it’s not clean, it’s not hygienic, so all of this affects not only their physical health but also their mental health.

It can be very challenging to hear these stories every day about situations in their home country where they have to flee and the travelling to Greece is not easy, they can be captured or tortured.

And when they arrive here they find themselves stuck in the islands, the conditions are not good, also other situations of violence can happen here.

So sometimes, even for me as a person, as a psychologist, it’s hard for me to find a way to comfort this person because you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel with the person you are talking to.

But what we try to do is first of all activate their own resources.
Everyone that is here has resilience, they are being very strong to arrive to this island.

So it’s important for the person to recognise her own strength and we help them with that.

Sometimes people can think they are crazy, they don’t understand why now they are feeling how they are feeling.
So sometimes it’s good to explain what’s depression, what’s post traumatic stress.

And it’s important as well to help them to develop a plan.

Even if they are going to stay here
Because they have to have hope that there is something after this and that the pain will eventually end.

And in some way or another they can continue with their lives.