In April 2026, a symbolic milestone was reached in France: 300,000 people were trained in mental health first aid (PSSM). Behind this figure, a silent but profound transformation in our relationship to mental health. Long relegated to the intimate or medical sphere, it is gradually becoming a shared responsibility, in the same way as physical first aid procedures.
Understand to act better
We instinctively know what to do when faced with chest pain or cardiac arrest. On the other hand, when faced with a person who isolates themselves, devalues themselves, seems exhausted or expresses discomfort, hesitation dominates. Should we intervene? What to say? Aren’t we risking making the situation worse?
It is precisely these questions that the training answers. As recalled by Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical and author of Mental health, everyone concerned!first aid in mental health consists of spotting signs of distress, listening without judging, reassuring and directing people towards appropriate help.
“It is the equivalent, in mental health, of knowing how to call 15 in the event of a serious somatic symptom. The objective is not to transform citizens into caregivers, but to give them the right reflexes to not remain passive in the face of suffering”.
Because the reality is there: almost a third of French people know someone in their entourage with psychological difficulties. In this context, knowing how to intervene, even simply, can make a real difference.
A structured, but deeply human approach
At the heart of the training, a simple and accessible method: AERER (Approach, listen, comfort, encourage, inform). Behind this acronym hides a posture more than a technique. It’s about daring to approach others, taking the time to listen without judgment, providing comfort, then encouraging the person to seek help and directing them to the right people.
Moreover, the training is not only aimed at health professionals, but at all citizens. In personal life as in the professional sphere, situations of psychological fragility are frequent, although often invisible.
A teacher facing a withdrawn student, a manager facing a colleague in difficulty, a loved one worried about a family member: so many situations where this training provides keys. It allows you to no longer look away, to no longer feel helpless, and above all to intervene in an appropriate manner.
Effects expected on a collective scale
Beyond the individuals trained, the ambition is broader. By disseminating these skills among the population, public authorities and field workers hope to promote earlier detection of disorders, reduce stigma and encourage seeking care.
Training thus acts as an intermediate link between silence and medical care. It does not replace professionals, but it helps to shorten the time between the first signs and the request for help.
Training: an accessible but supervised approach
The standard training offered by First Aid in Mental Health France lasts two days and costs around 250 euros. She should soon be eligible for the personal training account, which will further facilitate her access.
It addresses the most common psychological disorders, crisis situations and the posture to adopt. The main thing is to understand that this is front-line training. It provides tools to support, not to diagnose or treat.
A success that still calls for vigilance
The only downside to this initiative, as is often the case with rapid success, is that certain deviations appear. One of the main ones is the confusion of roles. The certificate issued at the end of the training has no professional value, but it is sometimes used as such, particularly on social networks.
“We are thus seeing the emergence of profiles presenting themselves as “mental health first aiders” in an ambiguous sense, suggesting a form of expertise or clinical competence”, evokes Dr. Kierzek. Even more worrying, some practitioners of disciplines not scientifically recognized rely on this training to strengthen their credibility.
The risk is twofold: misleading vulnerable people and diverting the very spirit of the training, which is based on guidance towards qualified health professionals.
The question of supervision and the quality of trainers therefore becomes central. “Such sensitive training requires a solid foundation in scientific knowledge and impeccable ethics.”
A major advance, to be used wisely
First aid in mental health reflects an important evolution in our society. They help make mental health a shared subject, less taboo, more accessible. By giving everyone simple tools to act, they strengthen social bonds and the collective capacity to care.
“But their effectiveness is based on an essential condition: stay in their rightful place. Neither miracle solution nor substitute for professionals, they are a first step. An often decisive step, provided that it is part of a suitable care pathway.”
To register
For training or more information: First aid in mental health France
https://www.pssmfrance.fr/