← My friend is not doing well

Resources

Psychologist, psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, psychotherapist... It is sometimes difficult to find your way around different mental health professionals.

In this section of our mini-dictionary, you will find explanations on the role of each professional that your friend can consult free of charge in different structures (general practitioner, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker).

You can tell your friend about the Nightlines, which they can call Thursday to Monday from 9pm to 2.30am to receive anonymous support from a trained student helper.

The site student-support.info gives you the addresses of open and free structures for students throughout France, and Nightline's online directory for students in the Paris academy. For example, you can look together at the facilities near your friend's home, depending on the language you speak.

And of course, your friend can browse the first aid kit to take care of their mental health.

The Mon Psy website lists private psychologists who have a contract with the government and whom your friend can see for free. Some psychologists offer consultations in English if you're not comfortable enough in French. To do this, your friend must make an appointment with a general practitioner who will issue a letter of referral in order to receive 8 free sessions with a psychologist. If they are a student, there will be no advance payment thanks to Santé Psy Etudiant.

Your friend can go to the Psycom website, the 3114 website to talk about suicidal thoughts, Campus France website to find more resources.

It may happen that, when confiding in you, your friend brings up other subjects than those listed here (experience of a discriminatory situation, physical or psychological violence, threats or harassment, etc.). If this is the case, you can suggest to your friend that he or she research existing resources.

Once you have found the information, it may be difficult to make an appointment, or to wait for the first appointment (which may be several weeks or even months later). Supporting your friend and offering to accompany them through these steps can make a real difference.

If your friend refuses your offer of support, you can find out for yourself what they are going through. Don't forget to take care of yourself in all this!