There are twice as many visits to psychiatric emergencies as before the health crisis, according to Public Health France, and this, while France has lost 48% of child psychiatrists in less than 10 years. Faced with the lack of resources in public hospitals, a structure, Atrap (Accueil temporary ado Paris), supports adolescents and their families.
Arthur* is seated on a chair, one leg bent over the other. The windows of the office overlook the trees and the tombs of the Père-Lachaise cemetery. The young man feels good here. He has been accompanied for several months by a team of professionals, within the Atrap structurewhich helps young people in distress.
He follows a very specific treatment protocol:Until not very long ago, I had a family interview, a group interview and an individual interview every week. Now I have art therapy “explains the teenager. “I started not long ago, I only did one session. In this session, we worked on the self-portrait. We used different techniques. It’s quite interesting and quite entertaining “, he notes.
An important role, but treatment deemed too short
Arthur is supported by his parents. His mother regularly accompanies him on his appointments. Legs tight, eyes frank, Fabienne testifies. While the Atrap structure plays a very important role, it is not enough.
It is certain that it is an emergency solution, there is a very quick response and it is great that there is a quick response and immediate support. But the limit is effectively temporality. It can’t be more than two, three months, whereas the problems that teenagers go through take longer to find a way out. It’s not enough. As a parent, we have to think about the post-Atrap period.
Growing demand for support
Today, an image, a video or a statement can easily be relayed on social networks. Self-image, reputation can be tainted with incredible violence. Psychiatrist and Atrap founder Isabelle Sabbah warns of the dangers of social media:For teenagers, it’s very hard to be anonymous, there are a lot of things that remain. They have a weight on appearance which is multiplied by social networks. »
We find Arthur, despite this painful period, the young boy smiles, he wants to send a message: “Do not lose hope and that it is important to talk about your problems. That if it’s not going well, you have to talk about it, not only to your friends, but also to adults, and to your parents if it’s not complicated with their parents he says.
Faced with a growing demand for support, this structure which welcomes teenagers in difficulty will be equipped with around ten beds by January 2023.
* The first name has been changed