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Health prevention and promotion: mental health
Mental health is a state of psychological, emotional and social well-being. It means feeling good mentally and with other people.
Key points of the sheet
- Good mental health is not only the absence of serious mental disorders. It lets you face life's problems, work and contribute to society.
- If you or someone close to you does not feel well, you can contact the family doctor (médecin traitant). You can also see a psychologist or a psychiatrist, in a practice or at the hospital.
- You can also contact a Centre Médico-Psychologique (CMP) or an anonymous helpline. 3114 is for suicide prevention, 24 hours a day. Fil Santé Jeunes is for young people.
- Prevention in mental health is a priority. It helps to support patients as well and as early as possible.
- There are awareness campaigns for the general public. There are also sessions in schools, universities and companies.
- With the "MonPsy" scheme, up to 8 sessions with a psychologist are reimbursed under certain conditions.
Words to know
- mental health (santé mentale)
- It is a state of psychological, emotional and social well-being.
- family doctor (médecin traitant)
- It is the doctor who provides regular follow-up.
- Medical-Psychological Centres (CMP) (Centres Médico-Psychologiques (CMP))
- They are local services you can contact if you do not feel well.
- anonymous helplines (lignes d’écoute anonymes)
- They are numbers you can call, such as 3114 for suicide prevention.
- Fil Santé Jeunes (helpline for young people)
- It is an anonymous helpline for young people.
- "MonPsy" scheme (forfait "MonPsy")
- It reimburses up to 8 sessions with a psychologist, under certain conditions.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which number should you call for suicide prevention?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel numéro appeler pour la prévention du suicide ?
3114 is an anonymous helpline for suicide prevention, 24 hours a day.
With the "MonPsy" scheme, how many sessions with a psychologist are reimbursed?
In French, the language of the exam: Avec le forfait "MonPsy", combien de séances chez un psychologue sont remboursées ?
The "MonPsy" scheme reimburses up to 8 sessions with a psychologist, under certain conditions.
What is mental health?
In French, the language of the exam: Qu'est-ce que la santé mentale ?
Mental health means a state of psychological, emotional and social well-being.
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Source
Sheet “Prévention et promotion de la santé : la santé mentale” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.