Carcassonne Forum Aims to Shatter Silence around Mental Health Crisis
CARCASSONNE,France – A public forum on November 5th in carcassonne will address the growing mental health crisis in France,aiming to inform,raise awareness,and destigmatize conditions affecting an estimated 13 million people nationwide – roughly one in five citizens. the event, free and open to all with registration via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.fr/e/billets-agora-sante-mentale-comment-briser-le-silence-1676232298929?aff=oddtdtcreator), will focus on disease detection, treatment access, patient and family support, and reintegration into society.
The forum will feature a diverse panel including Marc Delahaie,a psychiatrist from Limoux; representatives from the Thuir hospital center and the Bordeaux mutual mental health establishment – a health executive,a social worker,and an educator; and Emmanuelle Garnier,president of the Aude collective of users for rehabilitation (CAUR),an association based at the C2RA psychosocial rehabilitation center.
The event’s urgency is underscored by recent data from Aude, revealing a significant increase in demand for mental health services.According to the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics’ annual health establishment statistics, 12,256 patients were seen at least once in 2024, including 2,501 children. This represents a growing “active psychiatry queue” served by 30.98 full-time equivalent psychiatrists and 522.62 non-medical staff.
Outpatient care is experiencing a notably sharp rise: 103,597 procedures were conducted in medical-psychological centers, compared to 93,913 in 2023; 8,824 in part-time therapeutic reception centers (up from 6,864); and 22,750 in somatic hospitalization units and psychiatric emergencies (compared to 20,273). Child and adolescent psychiatry saw a ample increase, with total procedures rising from 36,645 to 43,308.
“Essential,” says Christian Cabrol, emphasizing the need to address illnesses like severe depression, bipolarity, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and addictions, which profoundly impact daily life. the forum seeks to break down barriers and foster open conversation around these ofen-silenced struggles.
