one year after the quintuple murder, what avenues for better care?

See my news
Follow the Marne

Make mental health a national priority. This is the desire displayed by Jean-François Copé, mayor of Meaux, a year ago the day after the quintuple murder. On December 25, 2023, in the early morning, the lifeless bodies of Béatrice and her four children were found in a building in the Beauval district.

They were aged 9 months, 4, 7 and 10 years old, two of the children had multiple stab wounds, like their mother, aged 35.

The husband and father violently killed his family before fleeing towards Seine-Saint-Denis to try to attack his father. He will be arrested just before a new tragedy. The investigation will quickly reveal that he suffers from psychiatric disorders and had not not taken his treatment the day before he took action.

This quintuple murder created emotion in Meaux and throughout France, highlighting a real social problem: support and care for people with mental disorders.

Almost a year to the day, the city of Meaux signed and recorded the establishment of a local mental health council (CLSM), Monday December 9, 2024.

Bringing together all the stakeholders in the territory

In Meaux, there will be a before and after the tragedy of December 25, 2023. “We have not discovered the existence of these disorders, but it is an illustration of what, towards what, an illness which cannot lead “is not monitored or treated” reacts Doctor Christian Allard, Deputy Mayor for Health. “If this tragedy took place, it must at least be usefulthat it is useful and that we build something effective. »

So the City considered putting in place solutionsto operationally structure all the actors in the territory who have a role to play in the field of mental health.

For six months now, I have been regularly bringing together stakeholders from psychiatry, security and the prosecution. Before the CLSM becomes fully operational, this specific and unique unit in Seine-et-Marne allows us to identify and deal with worrying situations that require rapid and coordinated intervention.

In May 2024, a plan psychiatry had already been presented, aiming to improve the management of psychological disorders through several axes: better identification of disorders, facilitation of care pathways, the creation of support communities and an active fight against stigma.

This plan, which constitutes a real roadmap for the territory, is currently being deployed. The management of its various actions will now be ensured within the framework of the CLSM, guaranteeing effective and concerted implementation.

Because in Meaux, there is no shortage of actorsaccording to Doctor Christian Allard. “It’s above all about making them face their responsibilities and making them work together. An authority must impose a framework with objectives and a timetable. […] Given what is at stake, there is no reason for everyone to stay in their corner. »

The City brings together professionals of health, with the Grand Hôpital de l'Est Ile-de-France, city services, associations, social services, law enforcement… “That's a lot of people. The idea is to come together and share data. There is no question of not respecting medical confidentiality. On the other hand, when there are sufficient arguments to demonstrate that someone is dangerous for themselves and others, we must report it,” continues the deputy mayor.

It is with all these actors, and with this observation in mind, with the terrible quintuple murder in mind, that the City decided to go further and sign this local mental health council (CLSM).

A special entity, in addition to local health contracts

The City of Meaux is not the only municipality in Seine-et-Marne to have developed this CLSM. In the south, Nemours has already taken advantage of this system. “It was appropriate for the Regional Health Agency (ARS) that we also put it in place in Meaux. He comes in addition to our 3rd local health contract. Its specificity is the disorders which lead to tragedies. It was appropriate to create this special entity” continues Doctor Christian Allard, who affirms that mental health will be the major public health project in Meaux in 2025.

Since the Hospital, Patients, Health and Territories (HPST) law of July 21, 2009, which governs, among other things, local health contracts (CLS) and “mental health plans” (2005-2008 and 2011-2015) which encourage creation of local Mental Health Councils (CLSM), health policies seek to promote a global and adapted vision of mental health considered in its broad sense and not as the sole treatment of psychiatric illnesses.

At the national level, mental health has also been decreed as a major cause of the year 2025 by the government which presented on Friday October 11, 2024, the four priority objectives to promote mental health: destigmatization, in order to change the way the French view mental disorders and mental disorders, improving access to care throughout France, through the gradation of pathways, the development of new mental health professions by ensuring the care of the most fragile people and presenting the most complex disorders, supporting the people concerned in all dimensions of their daily life, such as training, employment, housing, access to leisure… and the development of prevention and early detection, through awareness-raising and training in all spheres of society.

The importance of awareness

This last point will also be developed in Meaux within the framework of the local mental health council, which will be coordinated by Audrey Charleux, chosen by the City, and who has already managed local health contracts, for a duration of three years. “We need a well-established system, but it will not take centuries, because there is an emergency” warns Doctor Christian Allard, who suggests organizing an evening dedicated to mental health at the Luxembourg Theater to present to the general public the issues of mental health and existing structures.

Christian Allard also wishes to hold hotlines within the Health and Prevention Area, located at 10 rue des Vieux Moulins in Meaux, to redirect questioning and distressed residents and respond as much as possible to their needs.

In 2024, the City of Meaux will also trained 80 local players in mental health first aid. “We had people from all areas, advisors, facilitators, association volunteers…” These training courses will continue to develop with the CLSM. “It is one of the armed arms of the system. »

Attracting new professionals to Meaux

If the actors are diversified in Meaux, it is always necessary more health professionals in the commune, as everywhere in Seine-et-Marne, one of the most important medical deserts of France. “At Ghef, like everywhere, the weak link is the workforce,” concedes Doctor Christian Allard. And outside the hospital setting too. In Meaux, today, there is no no more liberal psychiatrists.

And in terms of child psychology, which is an essential pivot in mental health, we are close to the Gobi desert.

The CLSM must also work on attracting the city of Meaux to encourage professionals to settle there and retain their loyalty.

At the same time, the town hall wishes to create a new teenage housefollowing a proposal from the Deputy Mayor for Health more than a year ago now.

The previous one, closed after the Covid-19 crisis, was located in a small room at the France Travail agency in Meaux. “It’s totally invisible. For a young person in distress, you need a structure with a storefront. » Today, adolescents must go to Lagny-sur-Marne to consult in a center dedicated to young people.

To go further, Doctor Christian Allard would also like develop a women’s center. “We do not pretend to solve problems but to put people back into psychological balance. That’s the role of a modern community,” concludes the deputy mayor.

If you are in distress and/or have suicidal thoughts, if you want to help someone in suffering, you can contact the national suicide prevention number, 3114.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.