Manolis Tzanakis

Manolis Tzanakis is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete since 2023. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Crete, focusing on the transition from asylum to community mental health models. His work spans sociology, mental health, and body studies.

• Ph.D. in Sociology (University of Crete)
• Graduate in Journalism (Athens) and Sociology (University of Crete)

His research interests center on the sociology of mental health, bodily practices, subjectivity, and contemporary self-practices. He explores institutional mental health frameworks, community-based models, and the intersection of recreation/sports with identity formation. Key themes include:

• Post-asylum mental health transitions
• Self-management in chronic conditions
• Sociocultural dimensions of aging and depression
• Bodily autonomy in leisure activities
• Voluntarism and solidarity networks in healthcare

His selected publications reveal a trajectory focused on institutional critique, patient narratives, and social practices. Trends include:

• Community mental health reformation (2019-2022)
• Reflexivity in psychiatric experiences (2014-2022)
• Sociological analysis of medical conditions (2016-2022)
• Body-self dynamics in leisure practices (2016)
• Ethnographic methodology in asylum studies (2004)

He has extensive teaching experience, offering courses on qualitative methods and community mental health collaborations. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in mental health support systems.