Guide from erstmalreden.de
Help for refugees with language barriers
After flight, uncertainty, or violence, mental distress can be very strong. You do not have to understand the help system alone.
Language, refuge & young people
In short
- What this page is about
- Mental health support and orientation for refugees when language, trauma, or the help system are difficult.
- This may fit if
- refuge, trauma, language, or fear of authorities make the help path harder.
- Looking for something else?
- If it is mainly about little German during first contact, the language guide may fit better.
- If you do just one thing
- Name language and location.
Take trauma and distress seriously
Sleep problems, fear, panic, withdrawal, pain, anger, guilt, or constant tension can appear after flight, violence, war, loss, or insecure residence. This does not mean you are weak. A first counseling contact can help sort the path.
Language and orientation
Ask about interpretation, multilingual counseling, and psychosocial centers. BAfF offers orientation about centers for refugees. Depending on your region, social counseling, migration counseling, family doctors, or counseling centers can also help find the next step.
If authorities or letters cause fear
Residence issues, hearings, letters, deadlines, or appointments can increase emotional distress. Social counseling can be important then. Mental health support and social questions often belong together, even when different places are responsible.
What you can say
A start can be: "I am a refugee. I am emotionally distressed. I sleep badly, feel afraid, or am very tense. I need help and someone who can interpret."
Emergency remains emergency
In acute danger or danger to life, call 112. This page does not replace emergency help, therapy, or diagnosis (A professional assessment by a qualified person. You do not always need a diagnosis before asking for help.).
Updated: July 4, 2026 · Sources checked: July 4, 2026
Sources and notes
What you can do now
If you only wanted information
This guide may fit as a next step: Refugee: trauma, language, and fear of authorities
Open articleIf you want to try first contact
Use the sentence helper or copy one short sentence. First contact does not have to be perfect.
Prepare a sentenceIf it has become urgent
Then reading more is not the priority. Open urgent help or call 112 in Germany if there is immediate danger.
Open urgent help- Name language and location.
- Look for a psychosocial center or social counseling.
- Use 112 in danger.
This page offers orientation and words for first contact. If you need counseling, therapy, or emergency help, real contact points matter.