Opening of a third reception center for “mentally wounded” soldiers

An Athos house, a regional reception center for French soldiers suffering from mental injuries, was inaugurated on April 13 in Aix-les-Bains (Savoie). This is the third of this type.

“Experienced in early 2021 in Bordeaux and Toulon (Var), the three houses today have more than 150 members who benefit from individualized care”, explains the Ministry of the Armed Forces in a press release.

Mentalities evolution

“Since the operations in Afghanistan, the intensification and growing harshness of the engagements of the French armies have led to a significant increase in the number of soldiers with psychological injuries,” continues the ministry. About 2,800 French soldiers affected by mental injuries were recorded from 2010 to 2019, five times more than the number of physically injured.

According to Colonel Eric Deschamps, deputy spokesman for the General Staff, the increase in figures also reflects a change in mentalities in the army vis-à-vis psychological trauma. “All the efforts that are made to allow the wounded to see that they can talk about it, and that it is recognized, means that today more soldiers than before undoubtedly come to these structures”, he said. -he explains.