Pictures of two men appearing to attempt suicide in the middle of a public square have emerged highlighting the increasingly desperate plight of thousands of refugees stranded in Greece.
Following Macedonia’s sudden decision to close its border to anyone but Syrians and Iraqis, tens of thousands of migrants have been left trapped in Greece, many without adequate food or shelter.
Thousands had already arrived at the Macedonian border only to be turned away by police.
On Thursday two men, believed to be brothers from Pakistan, made makeshift nooses and appeared to try and hang themselves from a tree in Victoria Square in Athens.
One of the men reportedly lost consciousness before ambulances arrived and took them both off to hospital for treatment.
Both were released later that same day in a “good condition”.
Victoria Square has become a central point for stranded migrants and a police spokesman suggested the two men’s apparent suicide attempt was a public protest against Macedonia’s decision to severely restrict entry to the country.
But psychiatrist Yiannis Chatzidakis, who works for Greek suicide prevention helpline Klimaka, told Al Jazeera: "The situation is increasingly becoming worse, so I don't find it strange that hopeless people with no home are willing to attempt to cut razor wire fences or even commit acts [like the one today] - regardless if they have mental health issues or not."
An estimated one million refugees have arrived in Greece since January 2015, seeking to pass through the Balkans and into mainland Europe.
2,000 migrants per day cross illegally into Greece on their way to a better life in the continent's wealthier north, restrictions imposed by Austria and Balkan nations have left thousands trapped in the financially broken country.
With all migrant centres full, Greek officials have resorted to opening up sports stadiums as temporary accommodation.
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, criticised the border closures and warned the decision could lead to a catastrophic bottleneck of refugees in Greece.
But he also said Greece needed to prepare for a situation where more than a few thousand people would be stuck in the country.
He added: "But really we need to work on alternatives to that, we need to work on the restrictions, we need to work on relocation, we need to work especially on massive resettlement from Middle Eastern countries."
Greek prime minster Alexis Tsipras threatened to block future EU agreements unless other European countries began taking in a share of migrants, insisting the country will not become “a permanent warehouse of souls”.
