Faced with the increase in psychological distress among children and adolescents, the President of the Republic announced that a “psychiatric package” -10 sessions reimbursed at 100%- will be activated throughout the health crisis as part of a course of care that begins with a doctor. “An excellent thing”, for the psychotherapist Benjamin Lubszynski.
- Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 40% increase in pediatric emergencies.
- For Benjamin Lubszynski, “all the problems of children and adolescents are increased” during the crisis.
- Emmanuel Macron has promised that more structural responses will be debated during the Mental Health Conference scheduled for this summer.
The government has decided to take up the issue of psychological disorders linked to the restrictive measures taken to fight the pandemic, while consultations have increased by 27% among psychologists since October. Psy checks have recently been granted to students. This time, it is children and adolescents who are targeted. Traveling to Reims on Wednesday April 14, where he notably visited the child psychiatry department of the CHU, Emmanuel Macron announced the establishment of a psychiatric package for children in psychological distress which includes up to 10 sessions which will be reimbursed 100%.
Problems are increased
“Today we have a health problem that affects our children and adolescents, which adds to the epidemic”, declared the Head of State. Throughout the duration of the crisis, with identifiable partner psychologists on a platform and as part of a care pathway through a doctor, children and adolescents who need it will be able to benefit from these 10 sessions. “We are seeing something rise that we had not experienced during the first confinement, anxiety and anxieties among the youngest which were reflected in the figures”, underlined Emmanuel Macron, citing a 40% increase in pediatric emergencies since the start of the epidemic.
Psychotherapist Benjamin Lubszynski welcomes this announcement which attests to “awareness. With this crisis, all the problems of children and adolescents are increased. There is more depression, more anxiety and more suicides.“With the closure of schools, children find themselves cut off from many social ties and can sometimes find themselves stuck in the middle of very complicated family contexts. “When there is a dysfunctional situation in the family, the school gives them a breakhe believes. There, they find themselves cut off from everything: they go out less, play less sport, have less stimulation… Family dynamics can be a major factor in depression and anxiety.” Four out of ten parents said they observed signs of distress in their child during the first confinement.
More structural responses expected this summer
It is still necessary to have enough staff to accommodate these young people in psychological distress. “The workforce should be doubled or even tripled.”, alerted the head of the child psychiatry department of the CHU de Reims, Anne-Catherine Rolland. Since September, requests for consultation have doubled, she insists. To continue on the example of Reims, it is now necessary to wait 8 months to obtain an appointment with one of the two child psychiatrists in the city.
If these packages will only be available during the crisis, Emmanuel Macron has promised that more structural responses will be debated during the Mental Health Assizes scheduled for this summer. “It is necessary to increase the vigilance of children and adolescents in particularsays Benjamin Lubszynski. It is a difficult passage in life. About 8% suffer from depression and among them, a third attempt suicide. In France, there is one attempt every ten minutes and suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents..”
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