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Mental health expert emphasises family responsibility in monitoring mental health deterioration

The Greek Herald
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Mental health expert emphasises family responsibility in monitoring mental health deterioration

In the last 30 years, mental health illness has swept Australia like a deadly plague.

With at least one in five Australians experiencing a mental health illness at some point in their life, it’s certain that people have been required to support their friends or family emotionally, or financially.

While parents are, in most circumstances, the first point of contact for mental health victims, they also receive close attention from support services. These support services could include consultations with mental health professionals, mental health clinic visits, or receiving at-home support by their parents.

“Many people with long term mental illnesses live with their parents and basically, for all types of reasons, they have complications with living in the community,” Helen Andrianakis says to The Greek Herald.

READ MORE: Why Greek youth are suffering in silence and the importance of intergenerational dialogue
READ MORE: George Laggis’ battle with suicidal thoughts and major depressive disorder

“They can’t live on their own or they have to monitor their medication. And the parents have to take on that role.”

Parents are the active support system for their children during the course of their life. However, what happens when this critical support system suddenly disappears, and there is not financial system or familial support left in place?

“From what I’ve seen, after the parents begin to deteriorate, the siblings aren’t looking after those people with mental health illness.”

Parents are the active support system for their children during the course of their life. Photo: CEU

Helen Eleni Andrianakis is a senior mental health drug and alcohol clinician and psychiatric nurse practitioner. Working in the mental health support industry for over 10 years, Helen has had deep experience with people who are reliant on support services.

Helen makes specific reference to a former client whose parents had passed on and left their inheritance to the children. As part of the conditions in their Will, the late parents required the siblings to dedicate a portion of the funds for mental health services for their brother.

“Well they didn’t do that,” Helen said bluntly.

“They just put him out on the street and took him to the crisis accommodation centre.”

Baffled upon hearing the news, Helen called the siblings about their decision receiving only two, very compassionate, words: “Tough luck”.

Ending up in a Special Residential Unit (SRS), the man is a representation of one in possibly thousands of mental health victims who are without proper support.

“There’s not enough institutions or SRS’ to place these people.

“They’re overpriced. You get very minimal support. A lot of them are very rundown.”

Yet while the government provides additional housing support and other free services to these victims, it sometimes still isn’t enough to talk them off the cliff edge.

“At the end of the day we all want to live with dignity,” Helen says.

“The stigma is already there but you need to be monitored, siblings need to be there.”

“At the end of the day we all want to live with dignity,” Helen says. Photo: Getty Images

St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, and the Alfred hospital in Melbourne are only a few centres that provide special mental health clinics for patients. These clinics provide support for all kinds of mental health illnesses, including those which are developed through alcohol and drug abuse. 

The Australian Institute of Health recognises a strong, yet complex relationship between mental health and alcohol and other drug use. A mental illness may make a person more likely to use drugs to provide short-term relief from their symptoms, while other people have drug problems that may trigger the first symptoms of mental illness.

“Just because they’ve taken this path, whether it’s from drugs or being born with a mental illness…. Once they deteriorate it’s hard to manage them and get them back on that stable level.”

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 25-44, and it is vital that at-risk people are closely monitored, whether it be by family or friends.

“Siblings should respect parents’ wishes and follow through to look after the complex care family member, rather than they just boot them out to the street,” Helen says.

“We know some of these family members are difficult to deal with but at the end of the day, we’re not here to judge and kill these people.”

One of the greatest signs of deterioration is a decrease in personal hygiene, Helen explains. This is followed by not eating, not looking after themselves, disturbing and anti-social behaviour.

If you notice any of these symptoms in close family members or friends, urge them to reach out to the following support helplines, or visit one of the support clinics listed above.

BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636; Lifeline 13 11 14; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Do you have a question you want to ask Helen? Email us at info@foreignlanguage.com.au

Exclusive: Bill Papas – Building Xanthi FC into more than just a football club

The Greek Herald
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Exclusive: Bill Papas – Building Xanthi FC into more than just a football club

By Takis Triadafillou

Bill Papas is president of NSW NPL team Sydney Olympic FC, and has developed the club into one of the most successful NPL sides in NSW. Playing a large role in the club’s development, as President, Papas has refined the team’s infrastructure at a collective level, while also motivating club fans to fill up its stadium seats.

Now, he is spreading his strategy and capacity to Greece for Xanthi F.C, making a bold step in Greek Football.

TGH: Mr. Papas, I will start with the question of: Why Greece?

Bill Papas: As you know, my love for football and Greece is a given. Thus the opportunity was found, I would say, to build a bridge with Europe, and where better with the country of our Parents.

TGH: Why Xanthi and not another group?

Bill Papas: The partners chose an area that has many challenges for development with steady steps. We will be able to change the competitive level of the team while helping develop of football throughout the wider region of Thrace.

TGH: Mr. Papas, who follows you in the dream of development?

Bill Papas: Firstly, it is Leo Karis, known to all of you and the football community for representing players. His expertise extends to negotiations for footballers’ contracts, friendly matches and he is considered the leader in this field in Australia. He has an extensive local and international business network that has developed over 20 years.

Damon Hanlin CEO of Titan Group of Companies is a friend and great collaborator with international experience. He is a director and a positive force in Sydney Olympic FC’s development.

Tony Popovic, coach of the team known for his successes with Perth Glory FC. Tony Popovic has signed a two-year contract.

Arthur Diles, who left the Western Sydney Wanders Academy coaching staff, is Popovic’s right-hand man. Also, two people who believe in this development are Anestis Tsetines and Yiotis Panayiotou, an executive from the Xanthi group.

TGH: How do you think this move will help the team?

Bill Papas: Our goal is not to win a title or waste a few million but to invest so that the team improves day by day in all areas. In the field of training, on the football pitch, utilisation of the talents in Thrace, making the team the first choice of all the talents of the wider region, in cooperation with Academies in the long run. And, of course, for people to come to the stadium and support a strong team, building up not only Xanthi but the whole of Greece and abroad. I believe in a project that will bring results in the long run.

TGH: Fans of Sydney Olympic are left wondering, what will happen to the team?

Bill Papas: Sydney Olympic FC cannot leave your heart. Other horizons open up for the group. The envisaged establishment of the 2nd National Division will be an incentive for an influx of players to strengthen the team. At the same time in Greece, with Xanthi FC being in the second division, it is a great incentive for players to play in a competitive championship, with young players to gain experience in the academies and in training, contributing to the development of Xanthi.

Editors Note:

With Xanthi now playing in Super League 2, it is an additional motivation for Bill to bring this historic team back to the Super League where it belongs. Beyond that, it opens channels between Greece and Australia.

There are no borders in development. Development starts from the academies at the base of each group. We want Xanthi and the wider region to become a pole of attraction for all young talents who will be able to strengthen local football and upgrade it to a competitive level.

I can say for sure that Bill Pappas and his associates are evolving the development of modern football. A new ‘Aeolus’ blows strong in Australia and Greece.

Xanthi FC make first Aussie purchase acquiring A-League legend

The Greek Herald
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Xanthi FC make first Aussie purchase acquiring A-League legend

Melbourne City FC midfielder Joshua Brillante has finalised his anticipated move to Xanthi FC, making him the club’s first Aussie purchase since the takeover, Xanthi FC board member Damon Hanlin confirms.

While spending last season at Melbourne City FC, Brillante gained a high reputation in the A-League with Sydney FC. The Australian was part of two A-League championship titles and one FA Cup title with the club.

Holding a dual citizenship due to his Italian heritage, Brillante had overseas spells in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Italy. Brillante couldn’t secure enough game time, moving back to the A-League.

Photo: Getty Images

New Xanthi FC coach Tony Popovic will likely use Brillante as a foundation for building up the club, with the skipper likely to be only the first A-League singing made by the Greek club.

Xanthi FC were demoted to the second Greek football division this season before the takeover by Greek Australian business owner Bill Papas. Xanthi are using Tony Popovic and fellow Australians Zeljko Kalac and Arthur Diles as club assistants, hoping to bring the club back into the Greek Super League.

Sakellaropoulou on official visit to Cyprus: We must fight for end of Turkish occupation

The Greek Herald
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Sakellaropoulou on official visit to Cyprus: We must fight for end of Turkish occupation

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou has made her first official visit to Cyprus since coming in to office, visiting the Imprisoned Monuments and the Tomb of Makedonitissa last night.

Upon her arrival at the Imprisoned Monuments, she was welcomed by the Minister of Justice and Public Order of Cyprus, Emily Giolitis. This was followed by a hymn, the laying of a wreath and a guided tour of the area.

“Today we are deeply saddened and we honour the heroes who fell for the freedom of Cyprus. The least debt to their memory is to fight with unshakable faith and perseverance for the end of the Turkish occupation and the reunification of Cyprus,” President Sakellaropoulou said on Tuesday.

Sakellaropoulou visited the Imprisoned Monuments and the Tomb of Makedonitissa. Photo: ANA-MPA

The President of the Hellenic Republic added that the fight to free Cyprus of their Turkish occupation is ongoing.

“Let us fight with unshakable faith and perseverance for the end of the Turkish occupation and the reunification of Cyprus,” President Sakellaropoulou said on Tuesday.

Sakellaropoulou said on Monday that “Greece, like Cyprus, looks forward to a constructive change in Turkey’s stance, in compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, with International Law and with the Law of the Sea, as well as with the Security Council’s resolutions on Cyprus.”

“Until then, we will not stop defending – not even momentarily and with all the legal means at our disposal – our sovereignty and our sovereign rights,” she stressed, noting that “towards this goal, the European Union has been, and will remain, the main field of our coordinated political and diplomatic effort.”

“The questioning and violation of the sovereign rights of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, two member states of the European Union, offends and challenges the Union itself,” she added.

US Congress members urge Boris Johnson to return Parthenon sculptures to Greece

The Greek Herald
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US Congress members urge Boris Johnson to return Parthenon sculptures to Greece

The return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece have been the subject of debate for decades. Yesterday, the US Congress stepped in to accelerate discussions, demanding UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to return the priceless historical artefacts to it’s home country.

In a letter sent to the Prime Minister, the US Congress urge for “earnest” talks for the return of the Parthenon sculptures held by the British Museum to Greece.

“The Marbles have been the source of controversy among western allies for many decades. Greece has long wanted these Parthenon Marbles back,” the letter said, according to reports in the British media on Tuesday.

A part of Parthenon Marbles, now housed in British Museum. © Shutterstock

Signed by 18 members of the United States Congress – both Democrats and Republicans – the letter called on Johnson “to negotiate with the Greek government in earnest on the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.”

The US Congress requested the marbles be returned by 2021, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the modern Greek state’s founding.

The letter adds: “We remain appreciative of your efforts and good will in support of the historic special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and look forward to strengthening that relationship through the accomplishment of matters such as this.”

Turkey, Greece agree to resume talks after four years

The Greek Herald
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Turkey, Greece agree to resume talks after four years

Turkey and Greece have agreed to resume talks over their contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean after a four year hiatus following weeks of tensions that culminated in a collision between their warships.

The talks, which broke off in 2016 after 60 rounds that made little progress over 14 years, will resume in “the near future” in Istanbul, the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement, without elaborating.

Turkey also gave no timing for a resumption of the talks but a senior official said they could begin by the end of the month. “There are positive developments,” the official said.

Photo: Ekatherimini

Tensions flared last month after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis seismic survey ship into disputed waters, escorted by gunboats, to map out sea territory for possible oil and gas drilling.

A Turkish and a Greek warship collided during the standoff.

Since then, Turkey has recalled the Oruc Reis, saying the move would allow for diplomacy ahead of an EU summit where members Greece, Cyprus and France are pushing for tough action against Turkey. The meeting was postponed on Tuesday to Oct. 1-2.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held a video summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country has mediated in the dispute, and EU Council President Charles Michel.

“At the summit, where developments in the eastern Mediterranean were … discussed, it was stated that Turkey and Greece are ready to start exploratory talks,” Turkey’s presidency said in a statement.

Omer Celik, spokesman for Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, said preparations for the resumption of talks were under way and that the two sides were working on the parameters.

Erdogan said he hoped the EU summit would bring new impetus to Turkey-EU ties, adding steps on updating a customs union between the two sides, visa-free travel and migration would help put ties on a positive basis.

In a video address to the U.N. General Assembly, Erdogan also called for a regional conference of Mediterranean coastal states, which he said should include the breakaway Turkish Cypriots, to address maritime disputes.

Turkey has two oil and gas exploration ships in waters off the coast of the divided island of Cyprus, angering authorities in Nicosia. Ankara does not recognise the southern Greek Cypriot government on the divided island, and is the only country to recognise the Turkish Cypriot state to the north.

Turkey has also signed a maritime demarcation deal with Libya which conflicts with a rival deal between Greece and Egypt.

Erdogan said Turkey preferred to solve disagreements “justly and in an appropriate way” through talks, but added that “futile” attempts to exclude Turkey from plans in the eastern Mediterranean could not succeed.

Sourced By: Reuters

Team Greece crowned champions of Plate of Origin 2020

Andriana Simos
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Team Greece crowned champions of Plate of Origin 2020

In what was a nail biting 3.5 hours, Team Greece knocked out the remaining three teams on Channel 7’s show Plate of Origin to be crowned this year’s winners.

“We have represented the Australian Greek community and now we’ve just won Plate of Origin! It is mind blowing. It is mind blowing. I’m so grateful, this is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of,” Dezi tells The Greek Herald.

Dezi and Penny have wowed the judges throughout the entire competition, but not as much as they did tonight with their traditional gemistes, barbeque prawns, tender lamb and galaktoboureko.

In the first round, they went up against Team Vietnam with their gemistes, which were sadly criticised by the judges as being too “salty.”

But Team Greece never gave up. They were given another chance to impress, going up against Team Italy and knocking them out of the competition with their special Greek Ekmek Kataifi recipe.

“Never underestimate a Greek mum. The pressure is on. I feel like the Greek community is watching us!” Dezi exclaimed at the time.

And boy, they definitely did not disappoint.

In the final battle against Team Vietnam, their entrée of barbeque prawns with yiayia’s pita bread received a single word of “BOOM” from judge Matt Preston. Our hopes were high!

A main meal of lamb rack with lemon potatoes and Greek salad was up next. There was drama with their lamb not being rested enough but that didn’t bother the judges who hailed it “perfectly cooked.”

The same was said about their beautiful galaktoboureko with hand made pastry.

Ultimately they scored 28/30 for their entree, 24/30 for their main meal and 24/30 for their dessert.

Congratulations to Team Greece!!

Owner confirms Hotel Grande Bretagne ‘not for sale’

The Greek Herald
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Owner confirms Hotel Grande Bretagne ‘not for sale’

Lampsa Hellenic Hotels SA have denied alleged negotiations with Arabic or foreign investors, saying Athens’ Hotel Grande Bretagne is not for sale.

Ogdoo.gr reported last week that the sale of the luxury 5-star hotel was in it’s ‘final stages’, being passed on to an Arabic business group in Qatar.

In a statement released to the public, Lampsa Hellenic Hotels SA underlines that the company is “neither in advanced, initial, or any negotiations with Arab or investors of other origins” for the sale of the hotel.

Hotel Grande Bretagne. Photo: Booking.com

The iconic Syntagma Square hotel was closed for four months during Greece’s COVID-19 lockdown wave 1. It recently reopened in July.

The statement adds that the company won’t tolerate misleading or false information to tarnish the reputation of Lamspa SA.

“It has been a point of reference for over a century for Greek and foreigners alike,” said Tasos Homenidis, CEO at Lampsa SA, upon its reopening in July.

READ MORE: Arabic group reportedly in ‘final stages’ to purchase Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens

The statement additionally states that there has been no thought or plan for the sale of parts or the entire hotel. In fact, the company is “implementing investments, focusing on efforts to return to normalcy, and planning its future growth”.

The luxury 5-star hotel is one of the largest and most expensive hotels in the Greek capital, holding 384 rooms, including two 550 sq. metre Royal Suites, costing up to 32,000 euros per night.

Zoy Frangos set to star in Arts Centre Melbourne’s ‘Big Night In’ event

Andriana Simos
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Zoy Frangos set to star in Arts Centre Melbourne’s ‘Big Night In’ event

Season two of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Big Night In with John Foreman is set to get a huge injection of star talent on Wednesday, September 30, at 7pm when musical theatre icon, Zoy Frangos, adds his voice to the event.

Zoy Frangos, who is the son of a Greek migrant father and Indigenous-Australian mother, will feature in episode four of the Big Night In, alongside fellow Australian pop icon Christine Anu and her daughter Zipporah Corser Anu.

This is something Zoy tells The Greek Herald is a dream come true.

Zoy Frangos is set to feature in season two of Arts Centre Melbourne’s ‘Big Night In with John Foreman.’ Photo: Arts Centre Melbourne.

“Christine is awesome. She’s a lovely person. So I was very excited when I saw that she was on the same episode as me. It’s nice company to be amongst,” Zoy says.

“I’ve been seeing the Big Night In for a while and I was like, ‘this would be great to be involved in.’ But then you sort of look at the names and you’re like, ‘oh they’ll never get me.’ So it’s really nice to be involved.”

Zoy says that on the night he will firstly speak with John Foreman, the host, about his career highlights, before performing Se by legendary film composer Ennio Morricone.

“It’s the song my wife walked down the aisle to,” Zoy says.

Zoy Frangos is performing a song as a tribute to his wife. Photo: Twitter.

“Originally I was going to sing Anthem from Chess, which I was going to sing in Wemba Wemba language, which is my mother’s Aboriginal language, but we couldn’t get the rights.

“So I chose to do the tribute to my wife to win some brownie points!”

Zoy’s excitement about the upcoming event is clear as day. Especially, as it’s one of the first times he’s performed since the coronavirus pandemic shut down theatres around the world.

“It’s nice to be working again. In lockdown, a lot of the time you don’t want to be thinking about theatre because it’s just too devastating. But something like the Big Night In has given me an opportunity to sit down and sing again,” Zoy says.

Something we’re all excited to see! You can watch Zoy’s episode of the Big Night In here.

Well-known Greek Australian brewery closes down due to Melbourne lockdown

Andriana Simos
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Well-known Greek Australian brewery closes down due to Melbourne lockdown

Melbourne’s Fall & Rise Brewing has made the difficult decision to sell the business after less than a year in operation due to the economic impact caused by COVID-19.

Established by Greek-Australian’s, Petros Gyftopoulos and Yiannis Psimoulis, late last year, the sale of Fall & Rise includes recipes, trademark and their database.

While head brewer, Yiannis, is now moving back to Greece to be with his family, Petros told Beer & Brewer they wouldn’t be making this call if there was a guaranteed end in sight to Melbourne’s lockdown period.

Head brewer, Yiannis, is now moving back to Greece to be with his family. Photo: Fall & Rise Brewing Facebook page.

“If there was some light at the end of the tunnel, I think almost certainly, the decision would be different,” Petros said.

“If someone could guarantee that on November 26 Melbourne would move out of lockdown, that would be something for me to hold on to.

“But there is no one who can say that now. We do not know when the vaccine is coming. We don’t know if Melbourne is going to have less than five cases a day to allow us to even move out of a state of lockdown.”

Fall & Rise had been contract brewing at Cockies Beer in Geelong and to date, had released two of their own beers: The Rise – a hoppy Kölsch; and Dorchae – an Irish stout.

Most recently, they even collaborated on an Alliance oatmeal stout with fellow Melbourne brewery Urban Alley.

Fall & Rise had released two of their own beers: The Rise – a hoppy Kölsch; and Dorchae – an Irish stout. They collaborated on an Alliance oatmeal stout with fellow Melbourne brewery Urban Alley. Photo: Fall & Rise Brewing Facebook page.

Everything had been going to plan, Petros said.

They had built brand awareness and established distribution networks with the likes of Blackhearts & Sparrows bottle shops in Melbourne and Canberra and online stores Bucket Boys and Beer Cartel.

In early March, they were ready to take the next step and find their own location to brew in-house. Then COVID hit.

“Breweries are shutting and the economy is struggling and it just isn’t the right time for us to be taking the next step,” Petros said.

“Continuing to contract brew just isn’t the right decision either right now. We are one of the victims of COVID’s financial impact and we just have to move on.”

However, does this really mark the final chapter in Petros and Yiannis’ brewing dream? Petros said it’s too early to tell but they had no regrets.

“When you have a start-up, you see it like your baby and I don’t want to see it die – even if it is in the hands of someone else,” Petros said.

“We have full time jobs, but for nine months we were finishing those at five o’clock and then working late hours on Fall & Rise. On weekends too. But we loved every minute of it.

“I do not regret doing it because the joy and the excitement and satisfaction of seeing our products in the market and people loving them, you can’t compare that feeling.”

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