Marina Economou – Lalioti

Marina Economou-Lalioti is a Professor of Psychiatry at the 1st Psychiatric Clinic of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (ΝΚUA) at the Eginition Hospital. She studied Medicine, Psychiatry and specialized in Social Psychiatry and Family Therapy in Athens and London.

She is Scientific Advisor at the University Mental Health, Neurosciences and Precision Medicine Research Institute “Costas Stefanis” (U.M.H.R.I.) and Scientific Coordinator of the "Anti-stigma" program aiming  to combat the stigma that accompanies mental illness.

Her clinical work mainly concerns the delivery of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions targeting both the patient and the family, with a primary clinical interest in psychoeducational techniques. Her research activity revolves around the realms of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, and particularly investigates the family’s role, social stigma and the impact of crises (economic crisis, the pandemic, etc.) on mental health.

Professor Economou has more than 300 international and Greek publications in scientific journals, such as the Lancet, World Psychiatry and Journal of Affective Disorders among others, as well as in books. Moreover, her authorial work includes the writing of one book and the editing of five medical books as well as dozens of special informative leaflets and scientific guides for patients and relatives, with reference to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Her teaching role comprises more than 6,000 hours of teaching at an undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as the organization of the Postgraduate Seminar "Psychoeducation: Interventions on the individual, the family, the group".

She has also undertaken the organization and development of psychiatric programs and services such as the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program of the Byron - Kaisariani Community Mental Health Center of the Psychiatric Clinic of the NKUA, the Program of Supportive and Psychoeducational Intervention in Families of Patients with chronic and severe mental disorders, and the collective action programme of the Panhellenic Association of Families for Mental Health. She has also organized anti-stigma and awareness programs in the community.

Professor Economou is member of the coordinating committee of the programme for the Promotion of Mental Health in Vulnerable Populations and scientifically responsible for the Unit of “Social Psychiatry and Psychosocial Care” at the University Mental Health Research Institute as well as the "Psychoeducation of doctors, patients and relevant caregivers" and the "Public attitudes towards refugees and implementation of interventions" initiatives. Finally, she is a member of the organizing and coordinating committee of the Psychosocial Support Line 10306, which started operating immediately after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.