Where can I get mental health support, and what can I do if the waiting list for therapy is very long?

In an emergency: If you are thinking about harming yourself or do not feel safe, call 112 immediately or go to the psychiatric emergency department of the nearest hospital. The Berliner Krisendienst offers free support every day, anonymously if you wish. The Telefonseelsorge can be reached 24/7 at 0800 111 0 111.

First step: If you have statutory health insurance, you can go to a psychotherapist's consultation hours (psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde) without a referral. To get an appointment, call therapists directly or use the appointment service on 116117 (Terminservicestelle); as a rule, it should find you an appointment within four weeks. Your GP (Hausarzt) can also be a first point of contact.

If you can't find a therapy place: If the consultation confirms that therapy is urgent, you can ask 116117 for acute treatment or a preliminary session. Group therapy places are also often available sooner. If you have searched for a long time without success, keep a record of the therapists you contacted (with dates and responses); you can then apply to your Krankenkasse to cover the costs of a private therapist who is not contracted with the insurers (Kostenerstattung). If it is refused, you can appeal.

While you wait: The districts' social psychiatric services (Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst), women's counselling centres and psychosocial centres for migrants offer free counselling. Loneliness, migration stress and burnout are very common; asking for support is not a weakness.