According to the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), 12% of children and youth living in France (one in eight) suffer from mental disorders. However, the conditions for this population to use mental health services remain poorly explored.Purpose of research: Our aim was to provide a double-statistical and discursive-perspective on the orientation of this population towards public child psychiatry centers (socio-demographic profile, actors who made the requests, reasons for first consultations, difficulties and disorders qualification by parents…).

This article is based on a quantitative and qualitative survey conducted in 6 public health centers in Paris: two Medical-Psychological Centers (CMP), two Medico-Psycho-Pedagogical Centres (CMPP), a Part-Time Therapeutic Reception Center (CATTP) and a Psychiatric Day Hospital (HJ). Overall, 581 first call forms and 73 patient files were analyzed (representing 654 children) and supplemented with illustrative interview excerpts from 59 family cases.

Beyond descriptive elements (gender, age, school level, socio-family context, conditions of access to the centers, etc.), this study stressed the high vulnerability of some families, the range of reasons given for initial follow-up as well as the key role of educational institutions in screening and referring the population to mental health care.

These results open up interesting insights into the early implementation of preventive measures and offer many research opportunities.