Feeling of loneliness, sadness, difficulty sleeping, nervousness… Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the mental health of young people has continued to deteriorate and the results of a study published this Tuesday by Public Health France confirm this. . In its conclusions, the institute explains that the mental health of adolescents experienced “a clear deterioration” between 2018 and 2022, “more marked among young girls”, which “widens the gap between boys and girls already observed previously”.
In this national survey carried out in 2022 and called EnCLASS, 9,337 middle and high school students answered questions anonymously about their health, and in particular about their psychological state. Although the vast majority of adolescents perceive themselves to be in good health (86% of middle school students and 84% of high school students) and are satisfied with their current life (82% and 77%), these results need to be qualified. According to the WHO Mental Well-being Index, only half of the students surveyed have a good level of mental well-being.
25% of teenagers feel alone
First discomfort: the loneliness felt. About a quarter of the students surveyed experienced a feeling of loneliness “most of the time” or “always” during the year. A figure higher among high school students (26.9%) than middle school students (20.6%).
More girls than boys report feeling alone, regardless of their level of education. But for them, this feeling clearly increases in middle school between 6th grade (21.8%) and 3rd grade (35.7%) then remains high in high school. A feeling which, on the contrary, changes little throughout the boys’ schooling.
15% are at significant risk of depression
Depressive symptoms were only measured in 4th and 3rd grade students and in high school students. 48.1% of middle school students and 53.2% of high school students say they lack energy, 38.7% and 44.6% feel discouraged and 38.1% and 42.3% believe they have difficulty thinking.
Whatever the symptom, but particularly when it comes to sadness and discouragement, girls are systematically more affected than boys. One in four schoolgirls say they have already wanted to die (compared to 10.5% of boys).
According to the ADRS scale (adolescent depression screening scale), 14% of middle school students and 15.4% of high school students present a significant risk of depression.
24% of high school students have had suicidal thoughts
The figures for suicidal behavior are even more worrying. 24% of high school students report suicidal thoughts in the last twelve months, 13% have already attempted suicide during their life and around 3% have had an attempt requiring hospitalization.
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Finally, 2.8% of high school students explain having already attempted suicide leading to hospitalization. Once again, this figure is higher among girls (3.6% versus 2.1%).
If you are between 12 and 25 years old and you feel the need to talk, you can contact the Fil Santé Jeunes helpline at 0.800.235.236 (anonymous and free call, accessible 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. ).
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are close to someone who is, you can call the national Suffering and Suicide Prevention number on 31 14 (free and confidential listening 24/7).