France's Position on Mental Health in Public Crises: A Focus on Women and Children

France acknowledges the importance of addressing the mental health needs of women and children during public crises. However, we believe the proposed solutions require careful consideration. While we support encouraging community-level NGOs, such as women's federations, to play a constructive role, we advocate for a more nuanced approach. We believe it's crucial to avoid solely relying on grassroots women's federations as leading units, as this could potentially overburden them. Instead, we propose a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders, including government agencies and established mental health organizations. Regarding community-based child mental health protection networks and systems, we agree on the importance of preventative measures, including addressing domestic violence and protecting children from abuse. However, we believe it's crucial to ensure these programs are implemented in a culturally sensitive manner and with appropriate safeguards in place. Furthermore, while we acknowledge the value of specialized mental health services, we emphasize the need for comprehensive and integrated care that considers the unique needs of women and children within the context of public crises. Finally, we support the development of school-based mental health problem promotion and prevention programs. We strongly believe that these initiatives should be tailored to address the specific challenges faced by women and children during public crises and should be complemented by broader community-based interventions.