Long-Term Psychological Trauma Effects After the Shipwreck of Greek Ferry “Samina”

This study examines the experience of a collectively traumatic event and its long-term effects on survivors. The event under investigation is the shipwreck of Samina on September 26, 2000, in Greece, when the vessel, traveling from Piraeus to Samos, struck a rock near Paros and sank in less than forty minutes. Eighty passengers lost their lives, either by drowning or during their struggle to survive. The material analyzed consists of 20 semi-structured interviews with survivors. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed as the most suitable methodology, providing a framework to “give voice” to individual experiences. The findings revealed a spectrum of chronic psychological and emotional consequences, including meaning protest, moral integrity, psychological survival and existential security needs, chronic emotional exhaustion and devaluation of life quality. The study highlights how one event—the Samina shipwreck—was experienced in diverse and multidimensional ways. Such research acquires particular scientific value, as it enhances understanding of what it means to live after a life-threatening event. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of developing appropriate frameworks for psychosocial support and mental health services for disaster-affected populations, reinforcing the significance and applicability of qualitative research in addressing complex human experiences.