France's president promised free psychological counseling Wednesday for children and teenagers struck by a wave of mental health difficulties that accompanied the coronavirus pandemic, reports ABC News.
With a doctor's prescription, those aged 3 to 17 will be entitled to ten free sessions with a psychologist. The French presidency said the scheme will run for the duration of the health crisis.
President Emmanuel Macron announced the additional help after meeting doctors and families at a pediatric psychiatric unit.
He said that pandemic shutdowns of schools and out-of-school activities are “very traumatic for our young people.”
French schools are in the midst of another shutdown scheduled to last at least three weeks, part of measures to curb the country's latest infection surge.
Psychiatrists say the deaths of loved ones with Covid-19, repeated disruptions to their lives and studies, and the clouding of their futures have had devastating effects on the mental health of alarming numbers of children and adolescents.