An Enabee study published by Public Health France reveals that 8.3% of children aged 3 to 6 years old in school in mainland France present at least one “probable” mental health difficulty, of an emotional, oppositional or inattention/hyperactivity type, impacting their daily life.
- A national study on children’s well-being, launched in 2022, shows that 8.3% of children aged 3 to 6 have at least one type of probable mental health difficulties that impact their daily lives.
- More precisely, 5.9% present oppositional difficulties; 1.9% of them have difficulties with inattention and/or hyperactivity; and 1.8% suffer from emotional difficulties.
- “Children’s mental health is closely linked to multiple individual, social and structural factors,” comments Dr Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France. This study makes it possible to identify them and therefore target the factors that could alter it, from early childhood, a critical period in children’s development.”
This is the first national survey on the mental health of young children in France… And the results are rather worrying! In the report, published this Tuesday, December 10, 2024, we learn that a little more than 8% of our children attending nursery school have at least one mental health difficulty.likely”, with visible repercussions on daily life.
“These results confirm that it is necessary from early childhood – a critical period in children’s development – to strengthen psychosocial skills which will be levers to be mobilized for the benefit of mental health.”, points out Public Health France.
More than 1 in 10 schoolchildren have already consulted for psychological or learning difficulties
Enabee’s study (“ National Study on Child Well-Being », launched in 2022) was conducted with a representative sample of more than 2,600 schoolchildren in mainland France. Combining the views of parents and teachers, it reveals that 8.3% of children aged 3 to 6 have at least one type of probable mental health difficulty that impacts their daily lives. “It is not a question of clinical diagnoses, but of having an epidemiological representation of the needs of young children as a whole. On an individual basis, in the event of difficulty, an exchange with a primary healthcare professional can help parents”, specifies the agency.
In detail, the data shows that:
- 5.9% of children in kindergarten present oppositional difficulties;
- 1.9% of them have difficulties with inattention and/or hyperactivity;
- 1.8% suffer from emotional difficulties.
Another point to note, it seems that young boys are likely to have more difficulties with an impact on their lives than young girls, at 11.3% for the former compared to 5.2% for the latter. “Nearly 13% of children in kindergarten consulted a health professional at least once, during the twelve months preceding the study, for psychological or learning difficulties.”, adds SPF.
Mental health: it is necessary to intervene from an early age
“Children’s mental health is closely linked to multiple factors, individual, social and structural, comments Dr Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France. This study makes it possible to identify them and therefore target the factors that could alter it, from early childhood, a critical period in children’s development.”
Declared a “Great National Cause in 2025”, mental health is clearly everyone’s concern. It is necessary to take it seriously from early childhood!
