The health crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of the French population. The CoviPrev survey, conducted on a recurring basis by Santé publique France since March 2020, shows a decline in the population’s mental health.

This situation has been the subject of several reports from professionals, particularly in psychiatry and pediatrics, regarding an increase in the number of young patients treated for suicide attempts and other mental health diagnoses.

In this context, Santé publique France has expanded its production of data monitoring the mental health of the population, introducing weekly monitoring reports based on data from emergency rooms and SOS Médecins.

Santé publique France’s efforts to assess the pandemic’s impact on mental health

Diverse and complementary data sources

Given the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic control measures on the population’s mental health, Santé publique France conducts specific epidemiological surveillance based on three complementary information systems:

• The SurSaUD® surveillance system, comprising:

  • data from hospital emergency departments (Oscour® network)

  • data from SOS Médecins associations

  • mortality data (INSEE and electronic death certification)

• Data from self-reported surveys

• The national health data system

The SurSaUD® surveillance system

Data on emergency room visits from the Oscour® network (which accounts for 93% of emergency room visits nationwide) and data on medical procedures from SOS Médecins (which accounts for 95% of SOS Médecins medical procedures) constitute the most readily available data source thanks to daily data transmission. They enable the analysis of emergency care utilization for suicide attempts and other mental health diagnoses.

Self-report surveys

The second regular data source is the CoviPrev survey. Other ongoing or upcoming surveys are being conducted among specific populations: pregnant women (Covimater survey), children, and adolescents (Confeado survey), and will help better monitor, analyze, and document the mental health status of the French population. Particular attention will be paid to the mental health of children and young people.

• Learn more about ongoing surveys

The National Health Data System

Finally, analysis of data from the National Health Data System (SNDS) will enable precise monitoring of hospital care utilization for mental health disorders (particularly depression) and suicide attempts, as well as their trends during the health crisis.

Weekly bulletins to track mental health trends

Starting today, Santé publique France will publish weekly bulletins to track and analyze mental health trends:

• visits to emergency rooms for suicidal acts, mood disorders (including depressive disorders), and anxiety disorders

• SOS Médecins calls for anxiety, depressive states, and behavioral disorders.

They will also provide information on the results of studies conducted as part of this monitoring effort.

These bulletins aim to inform all mental health stakeholders about trends in the mental health of the French population and thereby contribute to guiding decision-makers’ choices, actions taken by frontline workers, and, more broadly, raising awareness among the general public about these findings.

• View the weekly mental health bulletins