psychologically injured soldiers resume life projects in Toulon

After the war, by Réjane Varrod broadcast on France 3 Provence Alpes and Côte d'Azur, Michel recounts what marked a before and an after in his life, “I wasn’t the same at all after that…”

It was in a house in the countryside near Toulon that the director met him. An Athos house. In September 2023, the ATHOS house in Toulon moved to an environment closer to nature while remaining close to Toulon, a military city.

This villa “La Béroudie” is located on a 10 hectare property in the heart of nature and mountainous terrain.

Experimented since 2021, ATHOS houses are based on a fundamental principle: placing the soldier at the center of his journey and his reconstruction. EThey welcome mentally injured soldiers.

These houses are accessible on a voluntary basis to all mentally injured soldiers, advanced in their care journey and in their trajectory towards recovery, whether they are still active or not. It is therefore a complementary offer to allow mentally injured soldiers to recover in a non-medical environment, combining psychosocial support, life project and return to activities.

Managed by theIgesa (Institution for social management of the armies), this cocoon of reconstruction allows for the care of soldiers who return from operations and are experiencing post-traumatic syndromes such as withdrawal, loss of confidence or various forms of depression.

All the soldiers present on this house suffer from post-traumatic stress, develop or have developed symptoms and understand each other. All the work we do in this house is to allow you to re-project yourself. To recreate the life project.

Maximilienne Groise, deputy director of the Athos house in Toulon.

Here, in peace, far from the tumult of the Var prefecture and noises such as helicopter flights for example, itevery soldier is part of a non-medicalized program adapted and built with it. He comes to the villa a few days or several weeks. We cook there, we craft there, we spend time there, working on self-esteem, conviviality and collaboration.

We also dive at sea. Against trauma, scuba diving has valuable virtues, studied for years by several doctors. Reduction in stress or heart rate, other victims of attacks have already tested this extraordinary therapy.

“They are in a collective that will come and serve the individual” specifies the deputy director.

“I'm just leaving the hospital so I still have little contact with the outside world. Here, you quickly feel at ease. It's reassuring. A great discovery” says Ludovic, a former psychiatric nurse, as he prepares the meal in the kitchen.

391 injured were treated

The goal for the staff is to allow the people welcomed to regain self-confidence, help to remobilize or support their return to employment within the armed forces or in the civilian environment.

I don't think we are in reconstruction as is sometimes said. I don't think that's the term, because rebuilding means doing it the same way. I am reconstructed, but not from the same person. The “person” I knew 3 years ago, I don't even know if she would interest me now…

Michel, member of the house.

As of March 1, 2024, 391 injured people were treated in these Athos homes. Today, there are four houses: in Cambes in Gironde, Auray in Morbihan, Coise-Saint-Jean-Pied-Gauthier in Savoir and Toulon.

A fifth will soon be opened in Villefranche-de-Lauragais, in the Occitanie region. Dn the military programming law (LPM) 2024-2030, it is planned that ten houses will see the light of day.

“People who help former soldiers, I think it’s very noble” Michel recognizes, his clear, moist eyes fixed on the horizon. “If one day I can give back what Athos gave me, I will be very happy.”

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>> The documentary on the Athos house is produced by France Télévisions and 10.7 productions to watch on france.tv until January 2025.

The director Réjane Varrod is also currently making a fascinating documentary which gives a voice to these single mothers who raise their children alone.