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Where is it?
Get psychological help for a child in a CMPP (centre for medical, psychological and educational care)
What is it?
Centres for medical, psychological and educational care (CMPP) are dedicated to the mental health of children and teenagers from 0 to 20 years old.
On site, it is possible to obtain medication and consult a psychologist, a child psychiatrist, a social worker, a psychomotor therapist, a speech therapist, and an educator free of charge.
CMPPs help find solutions for children who might have:
- psychological issues (great sadness, depression, screen or drug addictions, trouble sleeping, nightmares, anger issues, etc...) ;
- educational issues (problems at school, difficulties speaking, reading or writing, etc...) ;
- or social issues (difficult relationships with family or friends, feelings of loneliness and being lost, violent behavior, etc...).
CMPPs provide complete medical monitoring: screening (this means finding out what the problem is), taking in charge and treating the children.
Care is reimbursed by Health Insurance: you do not pay if you have an up-to-date Vitale card.
The CMP and CMPP are open to everyone. You can go there directly, without asking your GP.
Leaving a country and starting a new life in France means adapting, learning a new language, understanding a new culture, meeting new people, changing habits. For a child, it also means seeing parents stressed about paperwork, family in another country, the need for money. It is sometimes difficult and we don't know who to ask for help.
It is therefore important to explain children's problems to professionals, to talk about difficulties to your doctor or social worker, to make an appointment at a CMPP.
It is necessary to take care of your mental health and that of your family, and to feel good.
How to do it?
There is no list with the addresses of all the CMPPs in France. But this site allows you to know where the centers are around your city.
You can click on your department, then on the city closest to your home, or your work, or your child's school.
CMPPs are not sector-based, which means you can choose the centre you want.
Call to make an appointment.
Following registration, one of the center's doctors will see you as soon as possible. This consultation enables an initial diagnosis to be made and the young person's needs to be assessed The results of this consultation will be summarised during a further consultation, to decide on the most appropriate type of help.
1. You must bring these documents to the appointment
- your residence permit
- your health insurance card, if you have one
- your Vitale card (if the child is attached), or their personal Vitale card, or a certificate of rights from Health Insurance
If you do not have a Vitale card, you can read this Réfugiés.info fact sheet: Having a Vitale card .
2. This appointment lasts about 1 hour and is organized by a nurse who will:
- record your details
- ask you questions to understand the problems at school and at home, and find out what the child needs.
3. Then, the nurse will offer you one or more appointments with :
- A child psychiatrist or psychologist (childrens' mental health professionals)
- A social worker or a specialized educator
- Other professionals: speech therapist, psychomotor therapist, etc.
Depending on the situation and needs of the young person, the CMPP can offer:
- medicines
- a child psychiatry consultation (children and adolescents)
- a psychology consultation
- group or individual therapy
- specialized psychopedagogy sessions in French or mathematics
- speech therapy sessions, psychomotricity, etc. (language, movement, behavior, relationships, emotions).
It is then possible to continue the consultations for several weeks or several months.
CMPP professionals organize regular meetings with the family to discuss the development of the child's situation.
The times, pace and duration of the sessions are discussed with you.
What happens next?
If the child feels better after a period, he/she can change or stop the treatment, with the agreement of the professionals accompanying him/her.
If the child does not feel better, or if you see that the situation is getting more and more difficult, do not hesitate to tell the professionals at the CMPP or your general practitioner to find other solutions. They may advise you to see other specialists.
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