Led by the En avant tout(s) association, the National Student Support Coordination (CNAE) is a free and confidential helpline. Louise Delavier, 33, program coordinator for the association which fights for gender equality and to prevent violence, particularly among young people, looks back on the deployment of this service launched at the end of 2023.
How was the CNAE born?
To address student unhappiness, the government wanted to move away from strictly institutional measures, not always popular with young people. En avant tout(es) is already part of the partner associations of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research in its national action plan against sexist and sexual violence. With our chat, which allows young people to discuss in confidence with people trained in the issue of violence, we have succeeded in making the link between our generation and existing structures.
This expertise allowed us to win the public contract to operate the CNAE crisis line. We recruited psychologists and social workers, and launched the line in October 2023.
How many calls do you receive and how are they handled?
We received 20 calls in October, 50 in November, 171 in January, and almost 200 in February, it is gradually increasing. The average duration of a call is thirty minutes, but it can last longer if necessary. The helpline is free and confidential, operational from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. We hear a lot about social isolation, with young people far from their families, or even their country of origin. We have profiles who are very precarious, or who are having difficulty in their studies. The Covid-19 epidemic has had a steamroller effect, some young people have the impression of having lost the best years of their lives, all in a bleak context. Many are anxious about the future in a world facing global warming.
What type of support do you provide?
Our psychologists and social workers listen and guide students to appropriate resources. If we encounter problems in the workplace, such as during hospital internships for medical students, we can contact the regional health agency. We also face discrimination, sexist and sexual violence, and harassment.
We quickly succeed, based on a story, in detecting the violence. In the event of a criminally reprehensible situation, young people can be directed to the police chat service, this is often reassuring for those who are hesitant to go to the police station. We help people in psychological distress to access structures, such as medical-psychological centers. Except that the wait can be long – several months – because the structures are saturated. Young people can call us back while waiting for their appointment, and we then ensure long-term follow-up.