Through the national Enabee and EnCLASS studies, carried out among tens of thousands of children and adolescents, researchers have identified the vulnerable situations most frequently associated with psychological disorders. A valuable photograph to better understand invisible suffering and act sooner.
From primary school, psychological fragilities are already very present
Mental health difficulties do not suddenly arise during adolescence. They can appear much earlier, sometimes from the first years of schooling.
This is one of the major lessons of the Enabee study, the first national survey devoted to the mental health of children in school from CP to CM2. Already, in 2023, the first results revealed that 13% of children aged 6 to 11 presented at least one probable mental health disorder, whether it is an emotional disorder, oppositional disorder or attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity.
The new analyzes published today allow us to go further. They show that certain life contexts are more often associated with the appearance of these psychological difficulties:
- The boys appear more concerned;
- This is also the case for children whose mothers experienced
complications during pregnancy or those living with chronic illness ; - THE academic difficulties constitute another important warning sign, whether identified by teachers or parents.
- The study also highlights the weight of life trials. The death of a loved one, an attack or even placement in child welfare are more frequently found in children with a probable mental health disorder.
The researchers emphasize, however, that these results do not make it possible to establish a cause and effect link. They describe statistical associations which help to better identify situations of vulnerability, without predicting the psychological destiny of a child.
- L’family environment also appears to be a determining factor. Conflictful separations, financial difficulties felt within the home or even the presence of an anxiety disorder in the parent interviewed are more observed in children affected by psychological disorders.
- Added to this are other experiences likely to weaken daily life, such as being the victim of harassment or spending a lot of time in leisure centers on days without school.
These results draw a nuanced observation: children’s psychological disorders cannot be reduced to a single cause. They often emerge at the intersection of biological, family, school and social factors that intertwine throughout development.
Are teenagers getting better? A real improvement, but still fragile
After childhood comes adolescence, a period of upheaval where identity, social relationships and autonomy are built. An age of all possibilities, but also of many vulnerabilities.
To understand the psychological state of middle and high school students, Public Health France relied on the EnCLASS 2024 survey, carried out among 11,400 secondary school students. The results tell a complex story.
On the one hand, several indicators show an improvement compared to the period following the pandemic:
- So, 82% of middle school students and 78% of high school students report being in good or excellent health. Eight out of ten middle school students say they are satisfied with their current life, a proportion which still reaches 72% among high school students;
- Even more encouraging, 70% of middle school students and 63% of high school students report a good level of mental well-being. An increase of 11 and 12 points respectively compared to 2022. At the same time, the feeling of loneliness is decreasing: it now concerns 15% of middle school students and 20% of high school students.
But behind these positive signals there remains significant suffering.
- PRoughly one in two middle school students (45%) report recurring psychological complaints for at least six months. Nervousness comes first among the symptoms mentioned (32%), followed by irritability (29%) and feeling depressed (21%);
- In high school, worries take on another dimension. According to the survey, 19% of students are at significant risk of depression. The most frequently reported manifestations are lack of energy (58%), difficulty concentrating (44%) and feeling discouraged (42%);
- THE disparities between girls and boys
remain particularly marked. At all secondary ages, adolescent girls display less favorable mental health indicators, and the gaps tend to widen as school progresses; - Another worrying data: one in 5 high school students report having had suicidal thoughts in the last twelve months. If this proportion decreases by four points compared to 2022, the increase in suicide attempts declared during life is of concern. They now concern 15% of high school students, two points more than in 2022.
These figures remind us that the improvement observed since the health crisis remains incomplete. Behind the statistical averages are thousands of young people facing sometimes intense psychological suffering.
Prevent rather than repair: the collective challenge of the coming years
This work also confirms the lasting imprint left by the Covid-19 pandemic. In children, the hardship of confinement or the worry felt within the home during this period remain associated with a higher frequency of psychological disorders several years later.
For public health specialists, these findings require strengthening prevention strategies from an early age.
One of the most promising levers is based on
development of psychosocial skills : learn to recognize your emotions, manage conflicts, develop empathy or even strengthen self-confidence. Abilities that play a protective role throughout life.
It is with this in mind that Santé publique France supports the deployment of several programs in schools and participates in the dissemination of tools intended for teachers, parents and education professionals.
For Dr. Caroline Semaille, Director General of Public Health France, these new data constitute an essential tool for guiding public policies: “The Enabee and EnCLASS studies offer a unique overview of the mental health of young people, from childhood to adolescence. The new results published today enrich knowledge on the subject. They also inform the public decisions necessary to create living environments favorable to the development of children and adolescents, from a very young age.”.
She adds:
“Declared a Great National Cause in 2025, extended to 2026, mental health is everyone’s business. Promoting good mental health, preventing the onset of psychological disorders and combating stigmatization are public health issues to which we are fully committed to support the adults of tomorrow.”.
Because behind every percentage there is a story. That of a child who struggles to find his place, of an adolescent who feels alone despite appearances, or on the contrary of a young person who, thanks to an attentive look, listening or early support, gradually finds a path towards balance. This is precisely where the public health challenge of the years to come lies.
Editor’s favorite
The editorial team was particularly touched by Mathieu Persan’s graphic novel, which depicts the impact of adolescent depression on a family. Through a poignant story, the illustrator shares the psychological ordeals experienced by his daughter, and a family journey with sincerity, sensitivity, but also humor and poetry.