Crisis help in Germany – numbers for English speakers

Tell them first where you are (address, or a landmark), then what happened. Stay on the line.

Talk to someone – in English

• Violence against women helpline – 116 016. Around the clock, free and anonymous. With interpreters, counselling is possible in 18 languages, including English. Relatives, friends and professionals can call too.
• Muslim pastoral care line (MuTeS) – 030 443 509 821 (a Berlin number). Reachable around the clock according to its website; according to a 2026 report, calls are possible in German, Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, English and other languages.
• Alcohol: the English-speaking AA hotline in Berlin, 030 3030 6688, can be called anytime.

Only in German – but always there

The TelefonSeelsorge (Germany's free crisis line) answers day and night: 0800 111 0 111, 0800 111 0 222 or 116 123. It is anonymous and free – but, by its own account, conversations are only in German. If your German is good enough for a conversation, don't hesitate to call.

krisenchat (krisenchat.de) is a free chat for everyone under 25, available 24/7 – mainly in German, with a separate offer in Ukrainian.

A doctor outside office hours

When practices are closed and it's not life-threatening, call the out-of-hours medical service 116 117. Its website 116117.de has information in English.

After the crisis

A self-help group doesn't replace crisis help or treatment. But once the worst is over, talking to people who have been through something similar can make a real difference. How to find a group →