Teen Mental Health: The Decline Worrying France’s Public Health Agency

Étienne Pot, the new director general of Santé publique France (France's national public health agency), sounded the alarm in early November 2026 on franceinfo: the mental health of 11- to 17-year-olds is deteriorating, and that decline has been accelerating since the post-Covid period. The statement adds to data already collected by the health agency from French middle school and high school students.

Behind this warning, what should we take away from the figures that have actually been published, and what remains in terms of forecasts and prevention messages? Here's what we know, without confusing a warning statement with hard data.

What the EnCLASS Survey from Santé Publique France Shows

The national EnCLASS survey, conducted by Santé publique France together with the École des hautes études en santé publique (the French school of public health studies) and the Observatoire français des drogues et des tendances addictives (the French observatory on drugs and addictive behaviors), paints a mixed picture rather than a uniform decline. Self-reported mental well-being is actually improving: 70% of middle schoolers and 63% of high schoolers say they feel a good level of well-being, an increase of 11 to 12 points compared to 2022.

But other indicators remain concerning. Depressive risk affects 19% of high schoolers, up 3.5 points since 2022. Suicidal thoughts affected 20% of high schoolers over the past twelve months (a slight decrease of 4 points), but 15% say they have attempted suicide at some point in their lives. This marked deterioration mostly played out between 2018 and 2022; some indicators have improved since then, while others have not.

A Warning About the Recent Acceleration

It is precisely this acceleration that Étienne Pot highlights: beyond the national averages, the trend observed in recent years reportedly remains downward for the youngest age groups, a phenomenon also seen in other countries. Girls are said to be particularly affected by this decline, with an increase in anxiety disorders and mood disorders.

This statement, made on public radio, reflects a qualitative assessment from the agency's director and a call to action; it does not replace a new set of hard data, which has not been published to date. For a family or a school, vigilance should focus as much on everyday warning signs — withdrawal, sleep problems, prolonged screen use — as on major national surveys.

Prevention Approaches Already Identified

Among the measures highlighted by health authorities:

• Early detection of signs of distress by family, friends, and school health professionals
• Limiting screen time and nighttime digital use, a topic we covered in detail in our article on digital disconnection
• Regular physical activity, whose benefits for well-being have been confirmed by several sport-health events held in France
• Family dialogue about sources of stress, including financial ones, a factor also found among young adults facing economic uncertainty

Researchers involved in the EnCLASS survey also stress the importance of behavioral science studies for understanding these trends over time, rather than reacting to each individual warning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has teen mental health really declined in 2026?

Official data from the EnCLASS survey show a mixed picture: self-reported well-being has improved compared to 2022, but depressive risk remains on the rise. The director of Santé publique France is mainly warning about a recent acceleration, without new hard data to back it up for now.

Are girls more affected than boys?

Yes. According to health authorities, the recent decline appears to affect girls in particular, with an increase in anxiety disorders and mood disorders.

What signs should alert parents?

Social withdrawal, sleep problems, a drop in school performance, or prolonged, late-night screen use are among the warning signs to watch for, according to recommendations from school health professionals.

Sources

• franceinfo
• ICI (Radio France)
• info.gouv.fr

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence. Editorial policy