The Adosphere in Dijon, an essential listening space for young people suffering during the health crisis

High schools intermittently, distance courses, moments between friends more virtual than real, today’s adolescents are suffering from the health crisis. In Côte-d’Or, more and more of them are coming to confide in their anxieties and doubts at the Maison des adolescents de Dijon.

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“I found a space of speech where one could listen to me without judging me. It’s something amazing and super rare“confides Raphaëlle. This teenager came for the first time to the Adosphere 2 years ago. Like many adolescents, she found there a space for listening and exchanging to talk about her problems or her discomfort.

Aimed not only at adolescents, but also at their parents and professionals, the adolescent center, created in 2008, offers free reception on flexible and adapted time slots. The missions of the Adosphere teams are multiple: medical, educational, social, legal and cultural. But their main mission is to listen to adolescents to prevent complications, support them and if necessary direct them to other existing systems.

“It feels good not to be judged by people older than us“testifies Raphaëlle,”they help us move forward. We are less afraid in fact. We know that if we need someone there is there. It’s reassuring“. `

More consultations related to the health crisis

Help that is reassuring, even more so in this period of nutritional crisis, which is particularly difficult for many adolescents.

Elsa Massabie, coordinating doctor of the Adosphere, can attest to this. She is worried about the psychological impact of the health crisis on young people. “We have had an upsurge in anxiety disorders, an installation of disorders and negative behaviors with impacts on their health.“, emphasizes the child psychiatrist.”For example, young people who reverse day and night, a lot of screen consumption. And then overall a loss of motivation and a loss of meaning in their project, why they chose such and such a path.”

Young adults today seem to be more affected by the crisis and more numerous than before to be received at the Adosphere. This is the case of Coralie, a 24-year-old student. A few months ago, she would never have thought of finding help at the Adosphere. “You immediately imagine yourself a psychologist so sometimes it’s just coming to discuss“recognizes the young woman.”I think there is still a way to go. I am even more confident to forge this path. I think all the advice I received here will help me in the future“.

The anonymity of young people preserved

To hear this distress, the door to the Adosphere is always open. Young people can come with or without an appointment for a first exchange with listening professionals. The Adosphere team is made up of a coordinating doctor, a directorate, a secretary, specialized educators and psychologists.

“We guarantee confidentiality to minors because it is a very important rule that we hold a lot to here because it frees speech, “says Karyn Alapetite, psychologist.”Someone of 14 who knows that what he is going to say to the teenage house, we will not repeat it. Not even to his parents, unless we are obviously worried. It can really help free speech. “

750 young people received in 2020

Young people can be received 1, 2 or 3 times before being referred to other structures, other professionals outside. The Adosphere is a gateway, a reception area which is often sufficient in most cases, even if the health crisis has shaken up its functioning. As a consequence of the covid, there are no more talk groups, nor informal exchanges around a coffee for adolescents and young adults.

“One of the key issues that lead people to come and meet us here are questions of an intra-family nature, or related to friendly or romantic relationships., “explains Françoise Jung, director of the Adosphere. “Whatever the age group, we can have similar problems.”

Last year, the adolescent center supported 750 young people in its premises in Dijon, and as many in its various branches in Côte-d’Or. Hotlines are now organized in 26 municipalities of the department.