“It’s urgent”, warns psychiatrist Michel Debout, author of a study by the Jean-Jaurès Foundation on suicide and mental health following the health crisis *, published Thursday, July 7. According to its conclusions, young people have paid a heavy price for the health crisis and containment measures. In this survey conducted by Ifop, 62% of 18-24 year olds say they have had suicidal thoughts since September 2021, compared to 34% of the total population.
The proportion of people who have had suicidal thoughts have also increased significantly between 2016 and 2022, according to this study. Six years ago, 22% of people who had had suicidal thoughts had acted out at least once. They are 30% according to the latest study by the Jean-Jaurès Foundation. “When 6% of the French population (which represents 3.5 million people) has already attempted suicide compared to 3% 20 years ago, it is very worrying and this should challenge the public authorities”believes Michel Debout.
Before the Covid-19 crisis, the rate of suicidal thoughts was highest among young women, but the situation has changed. Some 35% of young men (under 35) surveyed said they had had suicidal thoughts during the confinement period, while the proportion is 20% for women of the same age.
This high proportion of men, “unmatched hitherto”, worries Michel Debout. In the past, these “could express their distress through other manifestations than suicidal acts, such as assaults, violent acts, violence against themselves, but which did not take the form of a suicide attempt”he explains.
The emergence of these suicidal and depressive thoughts are “widely” linked to “social precariousness, poverty experienced at this age and forced isolation”, according to the study by Michel Debout. Indeed, in March 2021, an Ipsos study for France Télévisions revealed that 37% of 18-25 year olds barely managed to make ends meet. In addition to insecurity, “it is the youth who have been isolated, who could no longer see their loved ones, point the psychiatrist. And in addition, we pointed the finger at them when they were having parties, when young people need to find themselves, he argues. It’s an almost vital need.”
“Yes, they were taking a risk to their viral health, but by remaining isolated, they were taking another equally serious risk to their mental health.”
Michel Debout, psychiatristat franceinfo
“There is an urgent need to act (…) The increase in the malaise of children and young people is completely linked to the Covid crisis”, said the Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon, on France Inter on Tuesday. Especially in the field of prevention. Because another figure revealed by the study points to a specifically hexagonal evil. Compared to the other European countries where the study was carried out, the French are those who consult the fewest psychiatrists and psychologists: 16% of French people surveyed have consulted one of these specialists over the past two years, compared to 20% of Germans. or Spaniards. However, the proportion of people who consulted a GP is comparable (between 87 and 91%).
* Study carried out by Ifop for the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and the European Foundation for Progressive Studies, conducted on samples of 1,000 people in six European countries (France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Poland and Sweden). The interviews were carried out by self-administered online questionnaire, from May 3 to 17, 2022.
If you need help, if you are worried or if you are confronted with the suicide of a member of your entourage, there are anonymous listening services. The Suicide listening line can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01 45 39 40 00. Other information is available on the website of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health.