Accessing mental health services and support in Germany

Germany offers a wide range of mental health services, from psychotherapy and psychiatric care to specialized clinics and support groups. Public health insurance covers many treatments, but navigating the system can be complex for expats. While access to care often requires a referral and wait times can vary, growing awareness around mental health means more resources are available than ever, including services in English and other languages.

Learn how to get German mental health support by reading the following sections:

How does mental healthcare work in Germany?

Germany offers a comprehensive and structured mental healthcare system that includes psychotherapy, psychiatric services, crisis support, and both inpatient and outpatient treatment options.

Care is widely accessible through the public health insurance system (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), which covers most mental health services, including therapy with approved providers and necessary medications. Patients can often approach therapists and psychiatrists directly, though some types of specialist care may require a referral from a general practitioner.

In recent years, Germany has made significant efforts to destigmatize mental illness and expand access to support, with a particular focus on early intervention and integration of mental healthcare within the broader public health system.

Services are available across the country, but access can still depend on factors like location, language, and provider availability. Urban centers tend to offer more choices, including English-speaking therapists, while rural areas may have longer wait times.

How to access German mental health services

If you’re new to Germany, understanding how the healthcare system works – especially when it comes to mental health – is key. Access to care depends on your insurance type: public (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, or GKV) or private (private Krankenversicherung, or PKV).

If you’re a temporary visitor, you may need to pay for treatment out of pocket and then seek reimbursement through your travel or international health insurance provider.

In most cases, you can either speak with your family doctor (Hausarzt) for a referral or contact a psychotherapist directly – a referral is helpful but not always required. Public insurance covers outpatient psychotherapy, but only if the therapist is licensed to bill public insurance (Kassenzulassung). Because not all therapists hold this license, finding an available provider can take time.

To qualify for covered treatment through GKV, your condition must be diagnosed as a recognized mental health disorder – such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. This typically happens during initial trial sessions (probatorische Sitzungen), which are also covered. Waiting times for these appointments can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on your location and language needs.

Insurance for German mental healthcare

Since 2009, it is compulsory for every resident of Germany to have health insurance, whether public or private. Regardless of employment status, public health insurance is available to everyone. Public health insurance now includes outpatient psychotherapy treatment in its range of services.

By contrast, private health insurance is available for students, people who are self-employed, and those who earn above a certain income. Many international arrivals to Germany also choose to take out expat-friendly insurance with a global health insurance company before they arrive. This can help give new arrivals peace of mind while they set up their new life in Germany.

International health insurance for mental healthcare

To help cover the cost of a therapist or psychiatrist, international health insurance providers offer plans tailored to expats. This often include mental health coverage and access to English-speaking professionals.

A few of the largest international health insurance companies in Germany that offer mental health coverage as part of some expat plans include:

• Allianz Care
• Cigna Global

Finding psychiatrists and therapists in Germany

In Germany, psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of people with diagnosable mental health conditions. Psychiatrists can provide treatment for those who require an official diagnosis and medication, which includes those with severe depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and more.

A consultation with a psychiatrist can be set up by talking to your family doctor. Following this, a treatment program can be established in tandem with a psychotherapist who provides talk therapy. This will be covered by public health insurance.

Be aware that waiting times for treatment can vary significantly throughout the country. In Berlin, for example, waiting times for these treatments can be anywhere between one and six months.

English-speaking psychiatrists, therapists, and psychologists

To find an English-speaking psychiatrist, therapist, or psychologist, check out the useful resources section of this article or use Expatica’s German mental health services directory. These directories allow you to search for practitioners by language or provide an English-only list of professionals who can provide you with treatment and care.

On top of this, some of the directories allow you to search for a provider not only by language but also insurance type. You can search for the service that best fits your needs and reach out to a mental health professional by phone or email to set up a consultation.

Addiction services in Germany

In Germany, there is comprehensive mental health support for people struggling with addiction. This includes free services such as addiction counseling, prevention, and self-help. It also includes services that require approval from statutory and private insurers, such as withdrawal treatment, weaning, and integration assistance.

The availability of services and wait times depend on the type of care you need and the urgency of demand. You can research service providers for more details. A family doctor can refer you to a specialist. Alternatively, you can reach out to a clinic or rehabilitation center directly.

Online resources for addiction

Whether you require urgent care or are simply doing research, the following is a selection of online resources for addiction services in Germany:

• German Red Cross: This organization provides professional support, addiction support groups and a nationwide hotline you can call Friday through Sunday and on public holidays
• Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen: An online directory of addiction service providers
• Guttempler: Support service for alcohol, medication, and drug problems available online and also by telephone. However, most consultants only speak German.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (Anonyme Alkoholiker): Support organization offering advice and group meetings for people with alcohol problems, available online and by phone
• Vista Berlin: Counseling and support for people with alcohol or drug addiction

Support for eating disorders in Germany

Eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of age, gender identity, body size, ethnicity, or background. However, research shows that trans and non-binary young adults are most at risk of developing disordered eating habits.

There are a number of services available in Germany for those facing challenges associated with eating disorders.

If you are living with an eating disorder, speak to your family doctor, who can provide assistance. They may offer you a referral to specialized care such as a psychosomatic clinic. Psychosomatic clinics provide comprehensive support, care, and treatment by teams of medical professionals to address your specific needs.

Organizations offering support for eating disorders

The German Society for Eating Disorders (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Essstörungen) is an interdisciplinary association of researchers and clinicians working towards prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and therapy of eating disorders. They also aim to represent the interests of those affected and their relatives in the best possible way. 

The Federal Association of Eating Disorders (Bundesfachverband Essstörungen e.V.) is a nationwide association of outpatient counseling and therapy facilities, psychosomatic clinics, therapeutic residential groups, and psychotherapeutic practices.

ANAD is an organization offering help to people with eating disorders through advice and multidisciplinary therapy.

German hospitals and clinics that provide care for people with eating disorders include:

• Schön Clinic Bad Arolsen
• Schön Clinic Bad Staffelstein
• LVR Clinic Essen
• University Hospital Freiburg
• Child and Youth Hospital Auf der Bult
• University Hospital Heidelberg
• University Hospital Münster
• Clinic Dritter Orden Nymphenburg
• Die Filderklinik
• Diakovere Henriettenstift

Support for those with severe or long-term conditions in Germany

For those with severe psychological symptoms, such as suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, debilitating anxiety or depression, or psychotic symptoms, inpatient treatment may be recommended. Typically, there are two options available: psychosomatic clinics and psychiatric hospitals. In Germany, these exist as either standalone clinics or wards within general hospitals.

Patients at psychosomatic clinics typically stay for four to six weeks. Psychiatric hospitals providing emergency assistance can provide treatment anywhere from days to months as well as outpatient services. Germany also offers a hybrid treatment model called Tagesklinik that allows people to spend the day at the clinic and go home at night to sleep.

You can access emergency services at hospitals or clinics whether or not you have health insurance. If you do not have insurance to cover your treatment, you will receive a bill. For smaller hospitals and clinics, you may need a referral or to check in advance of your visit what services are available.

German mental healthcare for children and young people

In Germany, children and adolescents have multiple options to access care and treatment. Parents and/or guardians can discuss options with a family doctor and receive a referral for specialized care. Alternatively, they may wish to reach out to psychiatrists or psychotherapists directly and set up a consultation.

In schools, children displaying symptoms of psychological distress may undergo a screening test by social workers or psychologists. These symptoms may include lack of motivation, negative mood, and attention issues. After such a test, they may receive a referral for specialist treatment.

Public health insurance covers all children until the age of 18. Pediatricians generally treat children until age 12, when a family doctor takes over. Public health insurance typically covers consultation with a psychiatrist, short-term therapy, and most of the costs. Those with private insurance may have to pay the fees upfront and file a claim for reimbursement. 

Mental healthcare services for special groups in Germany

Many organizations provide dedicated support to specific communities in Germany. Here are just some of these groups:

• StudierendenWERK: This Berlin-based organization provides counseling for students on personal conflict situations and study-specific topics
• Schwulenberatung Berlin: This organization for gay men and trans people provides one-on-one and group counseling on coming out, mental health, age-related problems, alcohol and drug use, addiction, and HIV/AIDS
• Frauentreffpunkt: This organization provides women who are victims of domestic violence personal and/or telephone advice, crisis intervention and security planning, shelter and housing support, free legal advice, and more. Counseling is available in English, Spanish, and German.
• GLADT: GLADT specifically supports people of color in the LGBTQIA+ community. They offer counseling, social events, training, and workshops.
• Teilhabeberatung: Using this service, you can find access to disability-specific counseling services and support across Germany. This includes speech disorders, mental impairments, learning disabilities, blindness, deafness, and other forms of neurodiversity, such as autism.

Emergency support and crisis lines in Germany

• German emergency services – You can reach ambulance and fire services by phone at 112 or the police at 110
• Germany Suicide Hotline – 0800 181 0771
• Telefonseelsorge Deutschland Suicide Prevention Hotline – Dial 0800 1110 111 or 0800 1110 222 toll-free to speak to a volunteer counselor
• Berliner Krisendienst – They provide around-the-clock phone assistance and in-person help from 16:00–00:00, with service in multiple languages including English. Krisendienst has nine different numbers (listed on the website) depending on from which region of Berlin you’re calling.

Useful resources

• Therapy Route – directory of psychologists in Germany
• KV Berlin – map of doctors and psychotherapists who accept public health insurance
• Therapie.de – search for a therapist search by location, gender, language, and more
• It’s Complicated – find in-person or online therapy according to your language and insurance type
• ACT Berlin – list of Berlin-based therapists and counselors with short bios and languages listed
• Doctolib – search for doctors in Germany by specialization, including psychologists
• Coalition for Mental Health – an alliance of 125 member organizations working to destigmatize mental illness
• German Depression Aid Foundation – nonprofit organization that helps those living with depression find support