A single phone number has been set up to allow students to contact psychologists, educators and lawyers, responsible for " to listen to them, to inform them and to guide them" , the Ministry of Higher Education indicated on Thursday.
“ Simplifying the phone number" , the 3040 number, free and confidential, " offers students a single, immediately identifiable point of entry, ensuring faster referral to healthcare" the ministry said in a statement.
The number, operational since Wednesday, July 1st, is managed by the National Coordination for Student Support (Cnaé). In the evening, on the Nightline, there are " students trained in peer listening who take over.
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A national website dedicated to mental health will be launched in October.
The ministry will also launch a national information website dedicated to mental health in October, presenting " all the support mechanisms" , " an orientation questionnaire allowing each student to identify the most relevant resources" , And " a bank of reliable content validated by a committee of experts“.
“ This tool aims to raise awareness among everyone of their rights and the support available, and to remove the obstacles that too often delay requests for assistance.", according to the ministry, which points out that these measures are part of the " major national cause » dedicated to mental health.
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In a 2024 study by the student life observatory, 16% of students reported having had suicidal thoughts during the previous year, citing reasons related to schooling or studies in nearly 60% of cases.
Students with supplemental health insurance can currently attend twelve sessions with a psychologist through the Student Mental Health program, launched in 2021 after the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting in October, these sessions will be offered through the My Mental Health Support program, with no upfront costs. The two programs cannot be combined, the Ministry clarified to AFP.
In five years, Santé Psy Étudiant has enabled nearly 120,000 students to benefit from 650,000 consultations.
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