Following the tragic assassination of psychiatrist Jean-Michel Gal, around one hundred healthcare professionals organized a silent march in Guadeloupe. Beyond paying tribute, the demonstration aimed to raise awareness of the growing sense of insecurity and the critical lack of resources within psychiatric services.

Tribute and cry of alarm

On Friday, around a hundred doctors, nurses and hospital staff gathered between Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes. Dressed in white, they paid tribute to Jean-Michel Gal , the 67-year-old psychiatrist who was stabbed to death on December 1st in a medical-psychological center (CMP) in Gosier.

The march quickly took on a protest-oriented character, denouncing a deteriorating work environment and a "feeling of abandonment" felt by the staff. Jean-Pierre Baral, a nurse and colleague of the deceased, expressed the profound anger and shared grief: "We miss him terribly. I'm angry at everything, at the person who did it, and at this feeling of insecurity we're experiencing." Some healthcare workers, having directly witnessed the tragedy, have still not been able to return to work.

Psychiatric services in distress

This tragedy highlights the persistent structural difficulties of psychiatric services in Guadeloupe.

1. Lack of resources: Christelle Antoine, a healthcare professional for 21 years, warns of a situation that is "worsening" and calls for "more people" as well as "equipment to work with".
2. Inadequate premises: Jimmy Louis, a nurse on a mobile team, raised the issue of outpatient care. He specifically pointed to community mental health centers (CMP) housed in premises deemed unsuitable, citing the lack of emergency exits and "corridors that are too narrow," which increase proximity and risk with some patients.

Request to participate in the work

Following the demonstration, a delegation was received by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in Les Abymes. The objective of the meeting was clear: "to request to be involved in the ongoing work" concerning safety and resources in the services.

For the participants, this mobilization is a call to transform this tragedy into a turning point . The concern goes beyond the sole field of psychiatry, as Anne Poulichet, a pediatrician who came to offer support, reminded everyone: "We all have workplace safety issues, whether directly or indirectly."