Doctors Anne-Laure Côte and Michela Giugiario-Gorla, psychiatrists at the Center Hospitalier Sainte-Marie.

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Sainte-Marie Hospital Center

  • A team of psychiatrists from Nice receives people made vulnerable by confinement free of charge and by appointment.

  • "We are seeing a wave of hospitalizations and psychiatric emergencies are saturated", explain doctors Anne-Laure Côte and Michela Giugiario-Gorla.

Faced with psychological difficulties linked to the Covid-19 epidemic and the containment measures, the Sainte-Marie psychiatric hospital in Nice has opened a “general public” reception on Boulevard Delfino.

A team receives free of charge.

Set up "during the first confinement", and while the officials observed "a wave of hospitalizations" and the "saturation of psychiatric emergencies", "this psychological support consultation has a preventive role", explains Dr. Michela Giugiario- Gorla, chief physician of the general psychiatry center at CH Sainte-Marie.

The signs of ill-being linked to the pandemic and its consequences have been identified and may concern, a priori, everyone.

"Suffering can manifest itself by a worsening of the condition of people already followed in psychiatry, but also in the general population in people who suddenly find themselves in distress", suggests Anne-Laure Côte, psychiatrist.

“It could be anxiety, difficulty sleeping, irritability, difficulties in relating to those around you or simply difficulties in carrying out normal daily activities.

Someone who will say: "I can't do it anymore, I have no more energy" for example.

It's a red flag if it lasts several weeks, ”she continues.

These caregivers call for "the impact on mental health of confinement and the various measures that have been taken be taken into account".

“More and more people are angry - with the government, with those who violate the containment rules - and this is becoming the only emotion they feel.

It is a defense against their fears, ”notes Michela Giugiario-Gorla.

"You shouldn't be ashamed to ask for help"

The question of isolation, of limiting social ties as much as possible is also taken into account.

“The fact of not being able to see those around you or to practice sports and cultural activities, it deprives people of the things they like to do.

Most of the things that hold people up have been removed, ”she says.

In any case, these doctors recommend consulting as early as possible to prevent the first signs of distress from turning into depression.

“Anyone can fall into psychological pain, so don't be ashamed to ask for help.

It is estimated that hundreds of people in Nice need these consultations, ”says the head doctor of the general psychiatry center of Sainte-Marie.

People have to make an appointment at 04.93.13.71.01 and then?

An assessment of the situation will be offered with a nurse and a psychologist.

Then, “half of the patients we had were referred to me or another psychiatrist, either because their condition required medication, or because there was a serious nature, such as suicidal thoughts. », Explains Anne-Laure Côte.

In all cases, a second appointment is set to rule on the patient's progress.

"Two or three consultations are sufficient in some cases, sometimes it is longer", concludes the psychiatrist.

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  • Covid 19

  • Health

  • Nice

  • Confinement

  • Psychiatric hospital

  • Public health

  • Psychology

  • Psychiatry

  • Psychiatrist