A new study highlights an alarming rise in mental health struggles among French youth, with young people seeking mental health services at significantly higher rates since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The analysis, published in the JAMA Network Open journal, examined data from 20 million individuals aged 25 and younger. It revealed a marked increase in mental health visits, hospitalizations, and prescriptions for medications like antidepressants and antipsychotics between 2016 and 2023, particularly in the pandemic’s aftermath.
“The situation in France is not an isolated case and COVID-19 has put to the fore the shortcomings of our mental health system,” said Marcel Marchetti from Mental Health Europe in an interview with Euronews Health. He expressed concern over the growing reliance on medication, especially among young people, warning about the risks of over-medicalization.
The study underscores a disproportionate impact on girls and young women, who are experiencing heightened levels of psychological distress. Teenage girls and young women are increasingly seeking outpatient psychiatric care and face rising hospitalization rates for suicide attempts. Additionally, prescriptions for nearly every type of mental health medication have surged among this demographic.
Boys and young men have also seen an increase in prescriptions for antidepressants and ADHD medications like methylphenidates, though the rates of growth were lower compared to those for girls. Researchers pointed to social media as a contributing factor, noting that girls may be more frequently exposed to cyberbullying and interpersonal stress, key triggers for depression and suicide attempts.
France’s response includes initiatives such as smartphone bans in middle schools and support for EU-wide restrictions on social media for individuals under 15. These efforts aim to mitigate the mental health challenges exacerbated by social media use.
However, systemic issues persist. A shortage of child psychiatrists, which decreased by 34% between 2010 and 2022, continues to hinder access to mental health care. Before his departure, former Prime Minister Michel Barnier called for prioritizing mental health in the government’s 2025 agenda, underscoring the urgency of addressing this escalating crisis.
