Simple language: How do I find help?

Language, refuge & young people

In short

What this page is about

Simply explained: how you can find help when you feel mentally unwell or everything is too much.

This may fit if

you are looking into this topic: Simple language: How do I find help?

If you do just one thing

Choose what fits in the help compass.

Step 1: Say briefly what is hard

For example: I sleep badly. I am afraid. I can hardly get out of bed. I need help.

Step 2: Choose one place

You can go to a family doctor. You can ask 116117 (Germany’s medical on-call and appointment service. It is not an emergency number; call 112 in immediate danger.). You can ask a counseling center. If there is danger, call 112.

Step 3: Use one sentence

One sentence is enough at the beginning. You can use the sentence helper and copy or write down the sentence.

Sources and notes

• gesund.bund.de: German national health portal
• Gesundheitsinformation.de / IQWiG: mental health problems – where to get help
• TelefonSeelsorge: phone, chat, and mail support in Germany

If you only wanted information

This guide may fit as a next step: Getting mental health support

If you want to try first contact

Use the sentence helper or copy one short sentence. First contact does not have to be perfect.

If it has become urgent

Then reading more is not the priority. Open urgent help or call 112 in Germany if there is immediate danger.