Student Mental Health Support in France: SSU Services and Nightline

Your university's health service: from SUMPPS to SSE

Every French university runs a student health service, historically called the SUMPPS (Service Universitaire de Médecine Préventive et de Promotion de la Santé) or SSU (Service de Santé Universitaire). In 2023, these services became Services de Santé Étudiante (SSE), and access widened so that all students can use them, whether they are enrolled or not and whether they study at a public or private institution, according to Sorbonne Université .

Your SSE is your starting point for mental health support on campus. Staff there listen to what you are dealing with and point you toward the right kind of help, whether that means a few counseling sessions on-site or a referral into the Santé Psy Étudiant program.

Santé Psy Étudiant: 8 free psychologist sessions

Santé Psy Étudiant is a government program that gives every student in higher education access to 8 free consultations with a psychologist, with no advance payment required, according to the official Santé Psy Étudiant site.

You do not pay upfront and you do not need private insurance to use it. The program works through a network of partner psychologists, and the 8 sessions are meant to give you enough support to work through a difficult period or decide, with a professional, whether you need longer-term care.

How to get your prescription and book a session

To use Santé Psy Étudiant, you first need a care prescription (adressage), which you get either from your general practitioner (médecin généraliste) or from your university health service. This prescription is what lets you book sessions with a partner psychologist without paying out of pocket, according to Santé Psy Étudiant .

Book an appointment with your SSE or your GP first, explain what you are dealing with, and ask specifically about Santé Psy Étudiant if they do not raise it themselves. Once you have the prescription, the official website helps you find a partner psychologist near you.

Nightline France: someone to talk to at night

Nightline France is a student-run listening association supported by the Ministry of Higher Education. It offers a listening service every evening from 20:30 to 2:30, reachable by phone or webchat, according to Nightline France .

Nightline volunteers are students trained to listen, not therapists, and calls are anonymous. Use it when you need to talk something through outside office hours, whether that is exam stress, loneliness, or a rough night, without needing an appointment.

Other options on campus

Some universities run walk-in psychological consultations directly at their SSE, with no appointment needed, so check your own university's health service page for drop-in hours alongside the standard booking system. Regional health agencies (ARS) in several parts of France also list additional student support lines and platforms, so your SSE or student union can point you toward local options beyond the national programs.

If you are in crisis or need help urgently, contact your SSE directly, call emergency services, or use Nightline France's line while you arrange further support through Santé Psy Étudiant.

Booking your first appointment

Start with your university's SSE, either through its website, an on-campus reception desk, or your student portal, and ask for a first appointment (une première consultation). Staff there assess what you need and either offer you sessions directly or write your prescription for Santé Psy Étudiant.

If you already see a GP for other reasons, you can raise the topic there instead, since any médecin généraliste can issue the same prescription. Bring your student card and, where you have one, your Carte Vitale to your first appointment, since this speeds up registration.

Access for international and exchange students

Since the 2023 reform that created the SSE, access covers all students at French higher education institutions, including those at private schools, and this extends to international and exchange students enrolled for a semester or a full degree. You do not need to be a long-term resident of France to use your university's health service or Nightline France.

Santé Psy Étudiant works through the French healthcare system, so check with your SSE how the prescription process applies if you are only in France for a short exchange, since your specific situation can affect how many sessions you can complete before you leave.

Other support on campus

Student associations and your Bureau des Étudiants (BDE) often run their own peer support initiatives and know which local services respond fastest, so ask around your department or student union if the official channels feel slow. Many universities also list additional support lines specific to your region through their SSE webpage, on top of the national programs covered here.

If you need urgent help

For an immediate crisis, call 15 for emergency medical services or 112 for the general European emergency number, both free and available around the clock in France. Nightline France and your SSE offer support and listening, not emergency response, so use the emergency numbers whenever safety is an immediate concern.