The new mental health centre in Athalassa, Nicosia, was inaugurated on Monday, with President Nikos Christodoulides speaking of a long-overdue project.

The existing psychiatric hospital in Athalassa dates to 1964. Now mental health services will be provided by the new centre.

Monday’s event marks the inaugurals of the completion of the first phase of the centre, costing €12 million.

In his speech, the president said the project was co-financed through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, as part of the government’s ‘Cyprus-Tomorrow’ programme.

The centre includes clinics but also an amphitheatre, a gym, pavements and parking.

“This creates an environment for our fellow citizens in need of such treatment,” Christodoulides said.

The president said Cyprus could not be proud of the run-down facilities at the old Athalassa psychiatric hospital.

Having a new, modern facility, constituted “an obligation on the part of the state,” he added.

The president said the announcement of commencement works on the second phase of the centre would come soon. The announcement would be made once the budget is agreed with the finance ministry.

Once fully completed, the facility would avail of “all the modern standards for treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration”.

“This is the basic objective when it comes to people with psychological disorders, always respecting their dignity and rights, and in line with modern-day standards for psychiatric treatment.”