Feeling sad, depressed, hopeless, losing interest in everyday life… Are these symptoms familiar to you? If they last more than two weeks without interruption, they could be those of the characterized depressive episode (CDE), which would affect 12.5% of the adult population, according to the 2021 Health Barometer. Published this Tuesday 14 February in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, this survey , conducted on more than 24,000 people, reveals a clear progression of these depressive episodes. Among the probable causes of this evolution we find the stress caused by the pandemic and the various restrictions imposed in recent years to contain it.
Young people are particularly affected
Among the people at the highest risk of EDC we find in particular women, single people, single parent families, people in economic difficulty or unemployed… And young people, between 18 and 24 years old, who are also at the forefront . Public Health France thus shows that one in five young adults would have experienced a depressive episode in 2021. An increase of 80% compared to 2017, when they were only 11.7%, against 20.8% in 2021. This In addition , it is young people who are socio-economically least favored who remain the most affected by these depressive disorders. At the origin of these results, life situations made more complex and precarious, both from a professional point of view (with great uncertainty about the future), and from a family or financial point of view. Isolation in tiny quarters during various confinements could also explain this alarming increase.
At the beginning of the week, a study by the American organization CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) had already warned about the worrying mental health of young American women, revealing that one out of three teenagers had already thought seriously about suicide, calling into particular cause on parents to be more vigilant.
Where to find psychological help in France?
If you feel the need to talk, if you are looking for help to guide you in the face of psychological distress, you can contact some anonymous and free helplines:
- The Fil Santé Jeune number which will provide you with information and directions if you need it: 0 800 235 236
- The Red Cross hotline is also a valuable resource for finding someone to listen to you at the end of the line, free of charge and anonymously: 0 800 858 858
- The LGBT + Youth line of the Refuge if you are a victim of homophobia or do not feel well related to your sexual orientation or gender identity: 06 31 59 69 50
On Madmoizelle we also discussed the topic a lot:
- Through testimonies on anxiety and depression, told by those who experience them
- With this poetic film that portrays depression in all its complexity
- In a podcast with Mymy, Maxime Musquat and Clara Kane talk about why they consulted a shrink
Cover image: Unsplash / K. Mitch Hodge
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
