The First Aid in Mental Health association (PSSM France) offers training on the intensive use of social networks among young people accessible to all (parents, teachers, supervisors, peers or citizens). Objectives: learn to spot the signs of discomfort to prevent problematic use.
Massive use and variable effects depending on the young people
Adolescents spend on average several hours a day on social networks, whether to communicate with their friends, follow the news or be entertained. According to the 2023 WHO report, more than a third of adolescents aged 11 to 15 say they are in constant contact with their friends online, demonstrating a phenomenon of growing hyper-connection. But behind this trend, certain effects can appear and affect psychological well-being: anxiety, sleep disorders, reduced self-esteem or even social isolation.
An expert report published by ANSES (December 2025) highlights that the use of social networks can affect the mental health of adolescents, in particular through sleep disruption, body image disorders or even an increase in anxiety-depressive disorders.
However, while social networks can present risks, they also constitute, when used in a supervised manner, spaces for expression, support and socialization.
How to identify signals to better intervene
Identifying the first signs of discomfort constitutes a key step and for PSSM France, certain indicators should already alert: withdrawal from social interactions (such as loss of interest in daily activities); mood swings (with increased irritability); disturbed sleep or eating; an almost compulsive use of screens. Obviously these signals do not constitute diagnoses, but rather clues that can alert those around them: they allow us to assume that a problem exists and to consider early intervention with the young person before a more serious situation sets in.
Those around us, generally made up of parents and the school, know that it is necessary to establish a framework around the digital uses of children and young people. 94% of parents say they have put in place at least one rule, whether it concerns usage times, content viewed or time spent on screens. More than useful, these rules help to regulate their use but are unfortunately sometimes not sufficient to help a young person who needs help to take a step back from social networks but also on those around them who sometimes find themselves destitute.
How to identify signals to better intervene
Like first aid, PSSM France offers training accessible to everyone: parents, teachers, supervisors, peers or citizens. The objective is simple: learn to listen without judging, identify signs of psychological suffering and direct you to appropriate resources. These training courses do not replace medical or psychological monitoring, but they allow us to act upstream and create a supportive environment for young people.
By promoting vigilance and early action, these initiatives make First Aid in mental health a civic reflex, in the same way as actions that save in emergencies and allow training to better support and supervise!
And, to go even further on the issue of young people in general, PSSM France also offers a podcast dedicated to issues related to adolescents: Le Lien
ABOUT PSSM FRANCE
Helping someone who is not doing well can be learned. PSSM is an association which aims to lift the taboo on mental health and its consequences, and which notably deploys mental health first aid. Just like in its country of origin, Australia, PSSM France is a non-profit organization. The first training courses were provided at the end of 2019 and have continued to be deployed since then. Today, more than 230,000 first aiders have been trained and PSSM France has set itself the objective of training 750,000 by 2030. pssmfrance.fr
Press release, February 2026
