« Going to see someone is not for the weak, it is for the strong. » These words, spoken by Édouard Geffray, Minister of National Education, particularly resonated in the corridors of the Pablo-Neruda high school in Saint-Martin-d’Hères, where he went on Friday December 12. A visit placed under the sign of the mental health of young people, an issue that he raised to the rank of “ priorité absolue », alongside secularism and educational success.
In a context marked by the increase in psychological fragilities among young people, the minister wanted to meet those who experience these realities on a daily basis. “ Being at the MDL [Maison des lycéens, ndlr] allowed me to find my place in high schoolconfided Sacha, in second at Pablo-Neruda high school, which has put in place numerous measures to meet the needs of students. Here, we are reminded that high school is there so that we can experience the best possible education. »
The Minister of National Education, Édouard Geffray, had lunch with the students. © Maureen Dufournet – Place Gre’net
A feeling shared by Yaëlle, also in second grade, who underlined the importance of systems like “La Bulle”, a space dedicated to first aid in mental health: “ It’s reassuring to know that there is someone to lean on when you’re not feeling well.. »
Rafael, who suffers from an autism spectrum disorder, appreciates the room set up by the nurses to calm down, called ” refuge “. A place that he judges “ very secure ». « Sknowing that there is a place where I can relax, without telephone, without social networks, in peace, that makes me feel good “, he explains. An approach validated by the minister, who welcomed these initiatives: “ We must break the young person’s isolation and organize listening. And for that, you need spaces », he considers.
