Seeking Medical and Psychological Help

If you feel you need psychological help:

1- In an emergency, call 15 (from a landline) or 112 (from a cell phone). This is the single emergency medical number that will connect you to the most appropriate facility anywhere in France, regardless of your department. Additionally, wherever you are, if you are experiencing acute psychological distress, you can also go to the emergency room at the hospital nearest to you.

For more information: "Organization of Mental Health Emergency Services" on the Psycom website.

2- Don’t hesitate to talk to your primary care physician about your problems. They can help you and, if necessary, refer you to mental health professionals they regularly work with.

3- The various professionals you may encounter in the field of mental health include:

• psychiatrists (doctors who have specialized in psychiatry)

• clinical psychologists (with a master’s degree in clinical psychology)

• psychotherapists: they are generally (but not always) psychiatrists or psychologists. They must be registered in the ADELI registry of the Regional Health Agency.

Be wary of other titles; they do not correspond to any regulated profession. Exercise caution, as there is a risk of sectarian abuse in this field. For more details: “Psychiatry Professionals” and “Sectarian Abuse and Psychiatry” on the Psycom website

4- Mental health professionals work in various sectors: the public hospital sector (e.g., general hospitals, specialized clinics, etc.), the private sector providing public services (e.g., institutions managed by an association), and the private practice sector (e.g., private practices, private clinics, etc.). For more details: “The Organization of Psychiatric Care” on the Psycom website

5- Specialized consultations for psychotrauma

In France, there are specialized clinics for disorders related to psychological trauma.

They are located in public hospitals (university hospitals or general hospitals), military hospitals (but accessible to civilians), psychiatric hospitals, or municipal health centers. A non-exhaustive list of these facilities is provided below. In the public sector, these consultations are free or fee-based but reimbursed by Social Security.

Other options exist: psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as private consultation centers, which are part of the private sector.

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Text written by Anaïs Ravaud, clinical psychologist, coordinator for the ESPA study, November 13, 2016