Given the significant impact of mental health disorders on the Nîmes population, the municipality has initiated the Local Mental Health Council (CLSM). This launch, held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 1:30 PM at h2, Centre de congrès, signifies the City's strong commitment to mental health.
Concurrently, Nîmes is participating in the Mental Health Information Weeks (SISM), themed this year: "For our mental health, let's open ourselves to the arts!". This initiative highlights the beneficial role of culture and artistic practices in well-being, self-expression, and inclusion for individuals facing psychological distress, a benefit supported by numerous medical studies.
"Mental health is a state of complete well-being that allows us to cope with the stresses of life, realize our potential, learn and work well, and contribute to our community," states Olivier Benezet, Municipal Councilor Delegate for Mental Health and Addiction Prevention. He emphasizes the importance of exchanges between arts and mental health during this Information Week.
Mental health is recognized as a complex, cross-cutting issue involving various actors in social, educational, cultural, and employment sectors. A qualitative and collaborative survey conducted from May to December 2025 by sociologists Christian Laval and Pauline Rhenter formed the basis for the CLSM's roadmap, gathering perspectives from affected individuals, professionals, and local elected officials.
Although the survey focused on the Nîmes area, the mapping of resources extends beyond its administrative boundaries. Nîmes, as a departmental capital, concentrates a significant portion of mental health resources in the Gard department, positioning the future CLSM within a broader perspective, aligning with the findings of the Gard's Territorial Mental Health Project (PTSM).
The CLSM project addresses a strong demand for de-siloing and proximity to users, moving away from decades of criticism regarding fragmented policies. The aim is to bring together all involved stakeholders – citizens, users, healthcare professionals, and professionals from other relevant fields – to create a participatory and inclusive space for development. Individuals with mental health conditions will fully participate in deliberations and decisions, with their lived experience contributing equally to professional knowledge.
This tool is internationally validated by the World Health Organization and nationally by several bodies, including the High Council for Public Health. In France, nearly 280 CLSMs were recorded in 2024. In Nîmes, the psychiatric care rate in 2023 (51.6 per 1000 inhabitants) was higher than the national (40.2), regional (44), and departmental (41) averages.
Psychiatry professionals report overloaded services and difficulties in supporting individuals whose degraded living conditions complicate treatment. Users describe diagnostic wandering and challenges with social inclusion. Mental health is particularly affected in popular neighborhoods, where precarious living conditions, social marginalization, and trauma from drug trafficking, as well as climate change events, contribute to fragility.
The CLSM launch coincides with the Mental Health Information Weeks (SISM), dedicated to informing, raising awareness, and combating stigma. This year's theme, focusing on the arts, highlights the role of culture and artistic practices in well-being, social connection, and inclusion, reflecting the diverse range of actors and initiatives in Nîmes.
