On the occasion of World Psoriasis Day, the 1st “serious game” is released for 6 to 11 year olds. It is supposed to help them better live their relationship with other often mocking children.
More than 2.5 million people have psoriasis in France. Many are the object of stigmatization and discrimination, a kind of double punishment. As proof, 4 in 10 French people say they prefer to keep their distance from people with psoriasis and 5% of French people still think that psoriasis is a contagious disease, according to a recent study (1).
Faced with these figures, the 11th World Psoriasis Day, organized this Wednesday, is a good opportunity to fight against the stigmatization of patients. To achieve this goal, the France Psoriasis association is launching an information and awareness campaign by offering concrete and practical tools that will allow everyone, directly or indirectly affected by the disease, to live better with it. Among them, two are new: the 1st “serious game” for children, and the launch of a social network dedicated to psoriasis.
A complementary tool to the medical examination
For example, France Psoriasis has been offering “Théo et les Psorianautes” since September 18, an educational game for children aged 6 to 11 available on the site. theoetlespsorianautes as well as at the media library of the Cité de la Santé in La Villette (Paris), but also with school nurses, pediatricians …
The tool aims to help the 0.5% of French children with psoriasis to grow well and live well with the disease. Through the explanation of what psoriasis is, the acquisition of automatisms and situations of everyday life, this “serious game” also allows the entourage of the child (parents, siblings, teachers and others. doctors) to better support them in their sometimes difficult daily life.
It therefore provides concrete explanations on psoriasis, advice on daily actions, on received ideas, but also to manage their psoriasis in their relationship with other children, in the face of mockery or reflections.
Developed by France Psoriasis with the support of the Ministry of Health, it is a “complementary tool to the medical visit” explains Dr Emmanuel Mahé, dermatologist at the Center Hospitalier Victor Dupouy d’Argenteuil contacted by why actor.
Listen to Dr Emmanuel Mahé, dermatologist at the Victor Dupouy Hospital Center (Argenteuil): “ Many questions are not asked during the consultation. Especially in children who are paralyzed in front of the doctor. “
But the goal of this fun game is also to make these young patients understand that despite their skin disease, they can lead a completely normal life. This is thanks to the character of Theo, a child with psoriasia who leads a life identical to that of all other children.
Listen to Dr Emmanuel Mahé : ” Théo is a happy child. He is normal and goes to the swimming pool with the others for example “
Psolidaires: the 1st social network on psoriasis
In addition, on the occasion of World Psoriasis Day, the France Psoriasis association launched “Psolidaires”, the first social network on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis which is aimed at everyone: young and old, people with the disease. psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, relatives …
It is to be discovered from October 27 to November 2 via the site www.psolidaires.fr to answer the various questions that patients and relatives of patients ask themselves about the disease.
For Dr Emmanuel Mahé, this social network is a plus. “The patients have a quasi-institutional blog with coherent people, and experts,” he adds.
Listen to Dr Emmanuel Mahé : “ There are very specific questions where the advice of a doctor is essential. And it is on this aspect that “Psolidaires” stands out from other blogs. They are experts who answer questions about drugs for example. “
In practice: several groups corresponding to the needs of each have been created: psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, relatives of patients, Point jeunes, etc …
“Solidarity, independence, neutrality, freedom of expression and data protection”, such are the commitments made by the association via the moderators. The latter claims to have already registered hundreds of registrations on its site.
(1) OpinionWay survey for France Psoriasis, carried out on July 15 and 16, 2013 on a sample of 1,002 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over
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