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Introduction: According to the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), 12% of children and youth living in France (one in eight) suffer from mental disorders. However, the conditions for this population to use mental health services remain poorly explored.Purpose of research: Our aim was to provide a double-statistical and discursive-perspective on the orientation of this population towards public child psychiatry centers (socio-demographic profile, actors who made the requests, reasons for first consultations, difficulties and disorders qualification by parents…).

Methods: This article is based on a quantitative and qualitative survey conducted in 6 public health centers in Paris: two Medical-Psychological Centers (CMP), two Medico-Psycho-Pedagogical Centres (CMPP), a Part-Time Therapeutic Reception Center (CATTP) and a Psychiatric Day Hospital (HJ). Overall, 581 first call forms and 73 patient files were analyzed (representing 654 children) and supplemented with illustrative interview excerpts from 59 family cases.

Results: Beyond descriptive elements (gender, age, school level, socio-family context, conditions of access to the centers, etc.), this study stressed the high vulnerability of some families, the range of reasons given for initial follow-up as well as the key role of educational institutions in screening and referring the population to mental health care.

Conclusions: These results open up interesting insights into the early implementation of preventive measures and offer many research opportunities.