What happens if I call 112 or 116117?

116117, consultation hour & therapy place

In short

What this page is about

A calm explanation of what can happen when you call 112 or 116117 in Germany, and which number fits which situation.

This may fit if

you are afraid of calling and want to know roughly what can happen.

Looking for something else?

If there is immediate danger already, do not keep reading: call 112.

If you do just one thing

First check: is there immediate danger?

112 is for immediate danger

112 is right if someone is in immediate danger, life may be at risk, you do not feel safe from harming yourself or others, or urgent medical help is needed. On the phone, the first questions are usually where you are, what happened, and whether someone is in immediate danger.

What can happen when you call 112

Depending on the situation, an ambulance, emergency doctor, police, or other help may be sent. That does not mean the most dramatic thing always happens. It means the control center tries to decide what help is needed now. If there is danger, that is the right path.

116117 is not an emergency number

116117 (Germany’s medical on-call and appointment service. It is not an emergency number; call 112 in immediate danger.) is the medical on-call service and appointment service in Germany. It can fit if you need medical help that is not life-threatening, if you do not know what to do outside office hours, or if you are looking for a psychotherapeutic consultation hour.

What can happen when you call 116117

You may be asked about symptoms, location or postcode, and urgency. Afterwards you may get information about on-call practices, the medical on-call service, appointment service, the patient navigation tool, or the next medical step. For severe emergencies, 116117 is not the right place.

One sentence is enough to start

You can say: "I am mentally very unwell. I do not know which help fits. I need an assessment of whether this is urgent." If you do not feel safe right now, say that directly.

Sources and notes

• European Union: emergency number 112
• TelefonSeelsorge: phone, chat, and mail support in Germany
• 116117: medical on-call service and appointment service

If you only wanted information

This guide may fit as a next step: What is 116117?

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.