L‘Inter-union for the Defense of Public Psychiatry (IDEPP), the Union of Public Practice Psychiatrists (SPEP), the Union of Hospital Psychiatrists (SPH) and the Union Syndicale de la Psychiatrie (USP) express their dismay and anger after the interministerial meeting of June 2 devoted to the assessment of the Great National Cause and the government’s orientations for Health Mental. Communiqué.
Let us recall in this regard that this meeting, these interventions and these proposals were not preceded by any consultation with the profession*. Not a word on public psychiatry and the sector which cares for more than 2 million of our fellow citizens per year. Not a word on the current situation of the discipline which, by the former Prime Minister’s own admission, is currently “bloodless”. Not a word about the hemorrhage of staff who leave mental health establishments every day. Not a word about the deterioration of working conditions and remuneration of all staff, particularly those with the most modest incomes. Not a word about the 30% of vacant positions in our establishments. Not a word on the decline in the attractiveness of the discipline among interns (15% of positions unfilled, while the Minister is pleased to have made 600 additional positions available to interns). Not a word about the National Commission of Psychiatry which represents all forms of exercise of our discipline. Not a word about the dilapidation of our real estate equipment and even worse, without additional means or resources. Not a word about the chronic underfunding of our discipline.
BUT, detailed announcements various on the prevention of delinquency and the halving of emergencies… The question of prevention and care for young people, although the subject of a long report, only provided the response of a “skip the line” which will be dedicated to them, without implementing the necessary additional resources. The question of psychiatric hospitalizations (nearly 450,000 per year) has not even been touched upon, only the abolition of some 10,000 restraint measures among these by “the horizon of 2030”…
We have the feeling of a catalog of intentions, drawn up in haste and without real consultation with those on the ground. Even the measures put forward (“skip the line” for young people, abolition of restraint) are presented without method, without structuring or timetable, and even less, without additional means or resources. This all smacks of amateurism! Prevention is certainly necessary and its development essential for our fellow citizens. Freeing the floor and talking about mental disorders on all media can contribute to the destigmatization of these disorders. But forgetting that these disorders exist and that they are treated by hospital psychiatrists and all psychiatric professionals is serious and fraught with consequences. The signatory organizations urgently request a meeting with the Minister to establish together a concerted plan for the future of public psychiatry. They plan to hold meetings and contact all of our union authorities in order to find the right level of mobilization intended to put an end to this contempt and these abuses.
Norbert SKURNIK – Stéphane BOURCET Inter-union for the Defense of Public Psychiatry (IDEPP)
Gabrielle ALLIO – Michel TRIANTAFYLLOUSunion of Public Practice Psychiatrists (SPEP)
Marie-José CORTÈS –Stéphane HENRIETTE Union of Hospital Psychiatrists (SPH)
Charles-Olivier PONS – Delphine GLACHANT Union Syndicale de la Psychiatrie (USP)
*On June 2, the Ministry of Health took stock of Mental Health, a Great National Cause 2025 and outlined the outlook for 2026. Stéphanie Rist announced, among other measures, a “skip the line” system for young people suffering from psychiatric disorders identified by National Education in order to obtain an appointment in less than 48 hours. She also declared that she wanted to put an end to restraint practices in psychiatric establishments by 2030 and announced an interministerial delegation for mental health and collegial psychiatry attached to the General Directorate of Health. (see our article)
