Athens, Greece LGBTQ+ Facts
Athens has a vibrant LGBTQ+ culture in Gazi, Thessaloniki, and the Greek islands. Greece is one of the top LGBTQ+ tourist destinations in Europe, with many establishments providing fun activities and gatherings for queer folks. The island Mykonos, in particular, is world-renowned for its LGBTQ+ scene.
In addition, there are four annual pride parades in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion. Athens Pride is the largest of these events, with record numbers in 2015.
Mental Health in Athens, Greece
Because of the financial crisis in Greece, there have been adverse impacts on the mental health of various residents. Since fewer resources and higher unemployment rates, many people experience poverty. 27% of the population are unemployed. Since it is challenging to cope with the loss of wages and benefits, rates of depression and suicide have skyrocketed amongst Greek people. In 2013, it was reported that more than 12.3% of the population experienced depression.
However, since 2014, mental health stigma in Greece has reduced from 63.1% to 36%. Furthermore, as the Greek economy started turning around, the link between the financial crisis and mental health became more apparent, and discussions about mental health care in Greece became more accepted.
If you live in Athens and require mental health care, many resources are available. At LGBTQ and ALL, we provide the contact information for these resources and offer support for children. In addition, our psychologists for kids listing offers access to qualified mental health professionals that specialize in working with young people.
Top Features
Athens is the capital city of Greece. It was once the heart of Ancient Greece, a famous and notable civilization and empire. This city still has many landmarks from 5th-century B.C., like the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel with ancient buildings on top. In addition, the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum features sculptures, vases, jewelry, and other artifacts that trace back to Ancient Greece.
Facts
- According to city records, Athens’s origins date to about 3,400 years ago, making it one of the oldest cities globally.
- Athens has had nearly every form of known government: monarchy, democracy, socialism, capitalism, and even communism.
- The ancient Olympic games were never held in Athens. The first games occurred in 776 B.C. in Olympia, in Peloponnese. However, the city-state of Athens was home to its games, the Panathenaic Games, since 566 B.C.
- Around 500 B.C., democracy was established in Athens. This system was a direct democracy system, where eligible citizens could vote directly on laws.
- Athens has more theatrical stages than other places in the world. There are 148 theatre stages in this city, more than West End and Broadway combined.
History/Data
Athens, Greece, has been inhabited continually for over 3,000 years. It became the leading city of Ancient Greece during the first millennium B.C. Its history features various cultural achievements that occurred during the 5th century B.C. that paved the way for the foundations of western civilization. Athens’s current infrastructure is still an excellent example of ancient Greek infrastructure.
In 2011, the population of Athens was 664,046 residents.