On 7 September 1999, an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck the Greek capital of Athens. More than 143 people were killed and hundreds more injured. More than 40 buildings in the metropolitan area collapsed. The State Psychiatric Hospital was severely damaged and residents of the hospital had to be moved to other temporary housing. A number of patients were placed in nearby hotels.

While the relocation was not done in secrecy, when some local residents heard news reporting about a violent incident at one of the hotels, neighbours began to speak out in opposition to housing patients in the hotels. They brought the case to court in order to evict patients from the neighbourhood. The judge ruled against the protesting residents and in favour of those temporarily housed in the hotels.

Initial anti-stigma work was already underway in Greece, but the public controversy provided an opportunity to study issues involving stigma and discrimination. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 200 residents, employers and employees in three areas of Athens:

• Metaxourgio, where patients were relocated;

• Koliatsou where, 8 years earlier, mental health services had successfully been integrated into the community;

• Liossio, an area that shared the same socio-demographic profile of the two other centres, but lacked psychiatric services or a group home in the community.

The study showed that individuals who had more contact with the mentally ill had more positive attitudes towards them as well.