If you have active suicidal thoughts or think about harming yourself, it is a medical emergency. Call 112.
You do not have to pay for it
No one is angry with you for it
You will not face any negative consequences for it
Mental Health Support System in Germany
Psychotherapy in Germany is free of charge when you already have statutory insurance (both psychiatrists and psychologists). Waiting times can be long (around 6 months).
Saarland University also offers counselling to students free of charge.
You can talk to your GP (Hausarzt) and ask for a referral as well, instead of looking specifically for a therapist.
If you just arrived in Germany or are an international student, learning about the local healthcare system and how to access mental health services in your new home can be overwhelming.
What CAN you do? (Especially if you don't speak German)
Here is a little summary & list of options you have; in case you decide to take a step.
1) Contacting the university counseling services: (Campus Building B6.2)
- https://www.stw-saarland.de/en/counselling/student-counselling/
-
Via Email:
ppb@stw-saarland.de
“Dear Team,
My name is [Insert Name] and I would like to book a counseling session with you on the Saarbrücken university campus as soon as possible. What is your availability?
Thanks and best,
[Your Name]” - Via Phone: ? 0681 / 302-2515 (Monday – Friday, 9 – 12 a.m.)
- “In addition to the initial consultations, we offer open consultation hours on Thursdays between 12 noon and 1 p.m. (not available during the semester break). During this time, you can have a brief consultation without making an appointment.”
- This service is available if you are officially a student at the university (Master or Bachelor’s, PhD, HiWi, etc.).
2) Contacting one of the therapists from the English speaking therapists list (Available via CISPA Internal Wiki Only)
You can simply drop them an email as well!
3) Contacting The Outpatient Clinic at the Saarland University
Here you will have significantly less waiting time than contacting a regular therapist. It is also part of the university. You can use this contact form .
“Dear Team,
My name is [Insert Name] and I would like to book a counseling session with you as
soon as possible. I prefer [Insert Language] and if not, English.
Additionally [insert information about your symptoms…]
Thanks and best,
[Your Name]”
4) You can take an appointment from your GP (Hausarzt)
And explain the way you feel to them, for a referral.
Once again, if you feel in acute crisis (suicidal thoughts), please call 112—it’s free and they’re here to help!
If you need help with organizational issues or language barriers (booking, phone calls, questions), feel free to reach out!
5) Further Education Institute for Psychotherapy Saarbruecken GmbH (WIPS)
You can book an initial individual therapy (Einzeltherapie) or group therapy (Gruppentherapie) session directly on their website.
The calendar opens up to two months in advance and resets every night at midnight, so check back early for the quickest availability.
Please note: When filling out the form, you can mention if you prefer English or another foreign language alongside English. While they cannot guarantee a match, they will do their best to accommodate your preference.
6) If you can speak German, there are also a few more services you can use
-
TelefonSeelsorge, suicide hotline
Open 24/7: ? 0800 111 0 111
Website: telefonseelsorge.de - “krisenchat” (Crisis Chat) – krisenchat.de
- Muslimisches Seelsorge Telefon – mutes.de , ? 030 443 509 821
- Deutsche Depressionshilfe – deutsche-depressionshilfe.de
Last updated: July 9, 2025, 10:29 am