In Finistère and Côtes d'Armor, the Sentinelles network identifies agricultural assets in difficulty

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“I have known people who suicides. And my mother was depressed. Maybe that's why I got involved in the Sentinels network “. We will call her Marie, since the device guarantees them confidentiality and anonymity. A teacher in an agricultural high school, now retired, she has been part of the network for 8 years and, on a daily basis, she strives to spot people in painto listen to them and offer them initial responses to their discomfort by directing them to a health professional, a social worker… Reflexes that she acquired duringa two-day training course. “We learned to spot, not to judge, to listen,” she remembers. “The psychologist told us in detail what we need to do or not. There is no point, for example, in telling depressed people that things will be better tomorrow, that they just have to make an effort: it will onlymake the situation worse “. The training also teaches them the behavior to adopt when supporting people. after a twol, which has served him well on many occasions. “So far, I have not been confronted with a suicidal crisis.”

Since 2013

“The MSA of Armorique has taken up the subject of suicide prevention in agriculture from 2013,” recalls Bernard Simon, president. It begins by meshing the territory with volunteers, aware of the detection of discomfort. “ With very different profiles,” explains Karine Nouvel, general director. “MSA delegates, farmers or employeesin activity or retirement, employees of professional agricultural organizations: chamber of agriculture, accounting centers, etc..” The first training courses were organized in 2014 and the network grew over the years, now counting 150 sentries, spread across Côtes-d’Armor and Finistère.

Trained and supported sentinels

“These sentinels have a role of relay », explains the general director. “It’s up to them to identify people in difficulty, to listen to them, to direct them to people who will help them, to alert them.” A charter governs their interventions. Regular training is offered to them as well as, twice a year, meetings to share in a group, and with the support of a psychologist, their experience as a sentinel. And if they are faced with complicated situations to deal with emotionally speaking, they can call a psychologist.

At the request of professional organizations or the Administration, the MSA also provides training to their employees. “Some of them are sometimes faced with difficult situations, which make them uncomfortable. They want to know how to react and feel the need toawareness of listening”.

A cell to prevent ill-being

If the Sentinels network has existed since 2014, the MSA has a multidisciplinary unit and a referent prevention of discomfort since 2011. “In the event of a report, this allows us to call the person back during the day, to put them in contact with health personnel, to obtain the opinion of an occupational physician, a psychologist,” lists Bernard Simon. “We take advantage of our internal skills to be responsive ».

More than 10 years later, it is difficult to quantify the impact of these measures. “The training already allows the Sentinels to be more comfortable in their work. And they speed up the care of a person in distress.” An important lever when we know that Finistère and Côtes-d'Armor are the two departments with the highest suicide rate in France.

Detecting domestic violence

To mark the 10th anniversary of the network, the Armorique MSA suggested that the sentinels meet in Locarn (22) on November 8. “About fifty of them came,” indicates Laëtitia Le Bras Jacob, deputy director, in charge of social action, health and service provision. “For those who work, it’s not always easy to take a day off.”

After a first assessment Over the past 10 years, the wellness system has been detailed to the sentinels. “We also presented the actions of the CIDFF, the information center for women and families,” adds Karine Nouvel. “To detectr intra-family violenceour network of volunteers in rural areas interests him: it is more established in the cities.” Tomorrow, this detection will perhaps be integrated into the sentry missions. “These are avenues to work on.”

The day concluded in the afternoon with workshops allowing everyone to express their expectations, “what they lack to best carry out their mission”.

Numbers to know

In case of discomfort, distress, loneliness, suicidal thoughts… you can contact 3114, a national professional and confidential helpline number, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

More specifically aimed at the agricultural sector, Agri'beck, on 09 69 39 29 19, is an MSA fund system which, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, puts you in touch with psychologists.

Practical Are you sensitive to the distress of others? Are you faced with it in the exercise of your profession? Would you like to join the Sentinelles network? The MSA is organizing two training courses, on November 21 and 22 in Saint-Brieuc, and on November 25 and 26 in Châteaulin. Information on 02 98 85 79 79

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