"Move for your mental health too": judoka Teddy Riner named patron of this great national cause

The government, criticized for its lack of action on mental health, despite having been declared a major national cause for 2025, on Monday named judoka Teddy Riner as its patron and launched a communications campaign.

"The government will launch (...) from June 3 a major national communications campaign to change perceptions related to mental health," he said in a press release, referring to the "issue of awareness and destigmatization."

This campaign will aim to encourage "everyone to question their own mental health while taking an active role in supporting others."

The government also announced that judoka Teddy Riner, the most successful judoka in history, would be the patron of this great cause, in order to mark a "new milestone ."

A spot entitled "Move for your mental health too" , which will be broadcast by France Télévisions during the Roland-Garros tennis tournament, will emphasize the benefits of physical activity for mental health.

One of the government's priorities

These announcements come as several voices, including within the majority, have recently been raised to criticize a lack of government action on the issue.

The public psychiatric sector faces a lack of resources and difficulty accessing care, regularly highlighted by professionals.

"After five months, few actions have been announced ," Macronist MP Nicole Dubré-Chirat lamented last week in the National Assembly, calling for a "multi-year plan."

His parliamentary colleague, former socialist David Taupiac (Liot group), regretted that " in Paris, the slogans sound good" but that "the reality in our territories is quite different."

Health Minister Yannick Neuder responded that mental health was "one of his priorities" and promised to outline several measures during a "mental health strategy committee" in mid-June.