The social aspects in the identification of children’s mental health problems in two health services in Paris, France

Abstract

Children’s mental health problems were analyzed from a sociological approach addressing two questions: what are the main children’s behaviors identified and considered to be mental health problems, and what are the consequences of this classification for the debate on children’s problems in contemporary societies. This quantitative and qualitative study analyzed 275 patients’ records from two child mental health services (CMHS) in the northeast area of Paris, France. The majority of children were boys from six to 11 years old; requests were presented mainly by schools and parents; the main problems were behavioural problems, cognitive difficulties and relational problems (boys), and affective or emotional problems (girls). There is an interdependence of a great number of actors who worry about children’s behavior and a system of expectations seems to be collectively woven by them as social classifications.

Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care Center service use profile in Brazil: 2008 to 2012

“…A study performed in two Paris services reported behavioral problems as the most frequent (21.8%), followed by cognitive difficulties (19.3%) and affective or emotional problems (15.6%). These data are similar to the profile found in our study 30…”

“…An Argentinian study identified a median age of 13 years 29. In Paris, a study of two mental health services for young people found that 71% of those treated were boys, and that most were in the 6-11 year age group (64.7%) 30…”

Presentation - Concepts, trajectories, and approaches to “agitation” and “non-conforming children”: social and cultural experiences in Brazil, Chile and France

“…This third perspective emphasizes the multiplicity of points of view and negotiations between all the actors concerned (the child, his/her parents and siblings, the school and care professionals, etc.) (Béliard et al, 2018;Nakamura;Planche;Ehrenberg, 2018;Singh, 2004Singh, , 2012.…”