THE ECONOMIC crisis has shaken Cypriot society affecting not only obvious issues like crime and poverty but family structures, habits and population according to an investigation by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
Since 2011, the country has seen deep schisms in the structure, culture and day to day lives of people.
“We have reached a point of being a society surrounded by a black cloud making us all seem needy, poor and incapable, constantly asking for food related help,” psychologist and sociologist Antonis Raftis said.
Poor people have become poorer and while upper and middle classes may have suffered some losses they are still able to keep, more or less, the comforts they are used to.
The crisis has caused the creation – and increase – of food banks across the island. Volunteer commissioner Giannis Giannaki said and although unemployment is the root cause of poverty, the idea of food banks is not a solution to the problem. Rather, creating job opportunities is.
Just under 12,000 people now rely on food banks.
Although the symptoms may be similar with 1974, Raftis said with an economic meltdown, poverty and people fleeing the country, the difference is that these could be attributed the invasion whereas today’s consequences are a result of political and banking mismanagement, leaving people feeling exposed and victimised.
Poverty is also directly linked to crime, a worldwide phenomenon in which Cyprus is no exception. With more people not having a steady income, this results in increasing cases of thefts. For the first six months of 2012 there were 5,725 reported cases on the island while in March of 2014 there were 6,426. In 2015, there were 7,272 for the same month.
“People used to live more comfortably, they would go out to have fun, travel, give presents to family and friends. This has changed. People have limited their excursions, their little ‘luxuries’. They now have to think about going to the hairdresser, a beautician, the gym, a weekend to Paphos or five days abroad,” Raftis said.
He said this was why the number of cafes had increased. People, while trying to balance going out with their savings prefer having a coffee than eating at a restaurant or tavern which will have them digging deeper in their pockets.
This over-thinking, caused by financial insecurities has a great impact on family life with several of them going through a ‘survival crisis’, the psychologist said. The number of divorces has increased and those that stay together are often in a ‘dead’ marriage where they simply co-exist together.
There is also a greater tendency for couples opting to not get married after calculating wedding costs. Indeed, Raftis expressed that there has been a decline in the number of weddings over the past few years and it is more common for people to stay in long-term relationships which can affect the possibilities of having a family.
As far as the church and society are concerned, there are certainly questions over values, with the endless list of public scandals creating anger, desperation and insecurity.
But despite the challenges, Raftis believes there have been positive effects.
“We have a society with a declining economy, more depressed but it is also a society that keeps its pride. A society filled with indignation and complaints but is still positive,” he said.
Some of these positive effects can be seen in the way children are raised, with a greater sense of responsibility when it comes to managing their finances compared to the past where cash could be ‘thrown’ left, right and centre without any second thoughts.
