How can we talk to teenagers about mental health, help them put their difficulties into words and encourage them to seek help?
That is the whole point of the documentary «Heads Down: Working Together for Mental Health», organised by Génération 2018, a collective bringing together the players from the French national team who won the 2018 World Cup. Because behind every victory, there are sometimes deep wounds.
Through personal accounts and discussions centred on sport and mental health, this documentary – in which the e-Enfance / 3018 Association takes part – encourages young people to speak out and highlights the importance of their support network, trusted adults and support services.
A new teaching resource for secondary schools
To build on this initiative, Génération 2018 and the French Ministry of Education have developed a educational session based on extracts from the documentary, aimed at pupils in Year 8, Year 9 and sixth form.
Lasting 55 minutes, this activity provides teaching staff with practical resources to:
To gain a better understanding of what mental health is and to challenge certain misconceptions.
To encourage discussions amongst pupils about their wellbeing and the difficulties they face.
Identify the people and organisations to turn to for help.
This new resource was presented on 12 October 2026 during a meeting between Samuel Umtiti and Year 8 pupils at Jean-Philippe Rameau Secondary School in Lyon.
Sport, mental health and the protection of young people: a shared commitment
Partner of Génération 2018, The e-Enfance / 3018 Association shares this commitment to making sport a space of trust, support and prevention.
Because cyberbullying and online violence can have a significant impact on young people’s mental health, it is essential to raise awareness amongst both teenagers and the adults who support them, particularly in schools and sports clubs.
This approach is in line with the mission of the 3018, a national support scheme for young people who are victims, witnesses or perpetrators of cyberbullying or online violence, which is also listed amongst the support resources in the teaching materials.
Resources to encourage dialogue and reinforce a key message: no young person should have to face their difficulties alone.
Our articles on the subject
Mental health, algorithms and digital violence: insights from the e-Enfance / 3018 Association in the mūsae stories podcast
New tools to raise awareness amongst secondary school pupils, with the support of GMF
Bullying among young people: a scourge that affects all age groups and has consequences for their mental health
Sextortion: a national campaign to break the silence and encourage young people to contact 3018
