MENTALO Project: Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health: Realities and Prevention

Adolescents and young adults between the ages of 11 and 24 are experiencing a period of restructuring during which mental ill-being is common and a majority of mental disorders appear. In France, over the last decade, surveys show an increase in malaise and the risk of depression. The numbers of suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations corroborate these results. However, mental health remains a taboo subject that many do not want to talk about. Thus, it is necessary to overcome the limitations of existing studies to have a better understanding of the phenomenon while normalizing the subject of mental health. 

The MENTALO project led by Karine Chevreul is a longitudinal study co-constructed with 300 adolescents and young adults whose ambition is to acquire knowledge on the state of young people's mental well-being and on the factors associated with greater vulnerability or resilience. A cohort of teenagers and young adults is followed for a year trough a dedicated application.  As of June 2025, the Mentalo study had 16,000+ participants. 

The data from Mentalo will make it possible to take stock of the mental well-being of young people and their areas of concern, and to develop adapted programs and interventions, including the development of Mental+, a digital tool for monitoring mental well-being, co-constructed with young people and professionals. Mental+ will allow adults and young adults to assess their mental well-being, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and access personalized resources to take action to strengthen or restore their strength. This system aims to promote autonomy and early prevention. 

Mentalo – La 1ère grande étude scientifique nationale pour le bien-être mental des 11-24 ans !