Nearly one in six French people suffered from depression in 2024, according to the latest Public Health France survey. A trend that has already started since 2017, but which has significantly worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic. The study, carried out among 80,000 people, highlights an alarming observation: the mental health of the French continues to deteriorate.
Young adults and women on the front lines
The figures speak for themselves: 22% of 18-29 year olds say they have gone through a depressive episode, compared to 18% of women and 13% of men. Unemployed people are also very affected, with 25% of them affected. The severity of the episodes peaks among those aged 40-49, often caught between professional and family life and mental workload.
Despite the scale of the phenomenon, four out of ten people have not benefited from any therapeutic monitoring. The general practitioner remains the first point of contact, especially for women.
The regional differences are small, but the Ile-de-France metropolis has the lowest rate (14.7%), compared to 18.3% in Reunion.
A campaign to break the silence
To “free speech and fight against stigma”, Public Health France and the Ministry of Health have launched a national campaign visible until December 10. This campaign is based on a symbolic staging: the same sequence shown twice, first to remind us that discomfort can affect anyone, then to emphasize that listening and reaching out can change everything.
The objective is clear: to make people understand that mental well-being does not depend only on psychological monitoring, but also on social bonds, kindness and mutual assistance on a daily basis.
“The more we talk about mental health, the less we take concrete action”
For psychologist Pascal Anger, the observation is clear. “Since Covid-19, we haven’t stopped talking about mental health. However, the more we talk about it, the less we act concretely”.
According to him, society suffers from a worrying paradox. “Today, we are closing aid and support structures, when we need to strengthen existing systems, whether public or liberal.“.
It also evokes the human divide that is gradually taking hold in everyday life. “Social cohesion comes through words. People talking to each other create a bond. However, we have never been so far from each other. It’s very easy to communicate, but we’ve never been so alone.”
This feeling of modern solitude, fueled by an anxiety-provoking climate and increasing social violence, accentuates collective unease.
“You have to speak freely, don’t hesitate to turn to someone you trust. Sometimes, it is not necessary to consult a psychologist right away. The main thing is not to remain isolated.”
Taking a step towards the other is already starting to get better
The psychologist emphasizes the importance of taking action, even modestly. “You have to do violence to get out of loneliness. If you knock on one door and it doesn’t open, you have to knock on another. We always end up finding the right person.”
For him, the key to well-being is not just a single therapy. “The psychologist is not a magic wand. Well-being also involves other steps: walking, being useful, volunteering… Anything that gives meaning to your life helps you escape from the gray.
Faced with a society that talks a lot about mental health without always offering the means to take care of it, the message is clear: do not stay alone, and dare to reconnect with others, even in small steps.