Paris (AFP)

Insults, hateful messages, humiliation on social networks or disclosure of intimate photos: school bullying and cyberstalking have become unavoidable risks for insurers specializing in school insurance, when many parents are still unaware that such products exist.

Julien, whose first name has been changed, has chosen to take out insurance against bullying for his 6-year-old daughter.

A decision taken after three years of harassment, a follow-up of the little girl with a psychologist and a speech therapist and legal fees "extremely expensive".

He describes "a feeling of mop up, that there is no one around you, that you are alone".

Even if insurance cannot cover past risks, he now says he is warned and wants to be proactive.

As for his daughter, "she is rebuilding herself little by little, but she has accumulated a lot of delay", he worries.

Separate from the civil liability guarantee appearing on home insurance contracts, school insurance protects the child from damage caused and suffered at school, college or high school.

It is not compulsory, except in the case of optional school activities - during a language study trip or a cultural outing, for example.

"School bullying has always existed. There has been an acceleration in these last few years with the use of social networks", explains Philippe Bénet, president of the Mutual Insurance of Education (MAE).

Campaign against bullying at school, November 7, 2019 GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT AFP / Archives

Leader in the sector, the MAE covers 2.5 million families.

Since 2015, a cyberbullying guarantee has been included in all of its school insurance offers.

It allows a contribution to the costs of consultations with a psychiatrist or a psychologist.

"It is a guarantee which interests parents a lot", assures Philippe Bénet, but which still remains "very little activated".

Only "a few hundred insured persons each year use the psychological support component", specifies the MAE.

However, of the 12 million students who returned to school in early September, 700,000 of them could be the victim of harassment, according to the mutual.

- "Educate parents" -

The association for the fight against school bullying Marion la main tendue has joined forces with the insurer Wakam to launch the Kolibri solidarity insurance at the start of the 2021 school year, which specifically protects against bullying.

It costs 18 euros per year.

Wakam has developed this offer at cost price.

On each insurance taken out, 1.50 euros will be used for the opening of Maisons de Marion, a structure of the association for the care of victims of bullying at school and their families.

Of the 12 million students who returned to school in early September, 700,000 of them could be the victim of harassment Martin BUREAU AFP / Archives

For Nora Fraisse, founder of Marion la main outstretched - named after her 13-year-old daughter who committed suicide following the harassment she suffered at school - insuring her child against harassment can allow "to free the floor ", to uninhibit asking for help.

"Victims can tell themselves that a shrink is for mad people, it's expensive and mom already has enough problems ..."

In addition to taking charge of legal fees, psychologists' sessions or home lessons, the insurance offers an "e-reputation shield" to help remove from social networks what affects the image of the victim.

In the Notre-Dame school center in Villefranche-sur-Saône, a set of private institutions under contract, the management has chosen to experiment with Kolibri insurance with 1,400 students out of the 4,200 it accounts for.

"We are faced with an insoluble problem for us, because the causes are external, (...) but have internal consequences on the serenity of the college or high school class, and of certain students", regrets Christophe Audard , director general of the school center.

The director wants to "educate parents to a reality: that their children are completely soaked in social networks", so that they "realize the real activity of their child on the networks".

"It interests me that everyone sees that today, it is called a risk. Insurance exists because it is a risk," he insists.

"Social networks are not just an opportunity."

© 2021 AFP