France has a comprehensive public mental health system and a strong network of LGBTQ+-specific and HIV-related support services, particularly in Paris but extending nationally through organisations like AIDES and SOS Amitié. Mental health support is available in French and increasingly in English in major cities.
Crisis Support — Available Now
3114 — National Suicide Prevention Line
3114 — free, 24/7, confidential. France's national suicide and psychological crisis line, launched in 2021. Available to everyone in France. Talk to a trained mental health professional immediately. French-language primary; some English available.
SOS Amitié
09 72 39 40 50 — 24/7, free. An older crisis and emotional support line. Also available via chat at sos-amitie.org.
Emergency
15 (SAMU — medical emergency, including psychiatric crises) or 112. You can request a psychiatric emergency team (équipe mobile de psychiatrie) if needed.
LGBTQ+-Specific Services
SOS Homophobie
01 48 06 42 41 | sos-homophobie.org France's main LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination and support line. Handles reports of homophobia, transphobia, and also provides emotional support for people experiencing discrimination-related distress. Available Monday–Friday and some weekends — check website for hours.
Centre LGBTQ+ de Paris
centrelgbtparis.org | 63 Rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris (near Beaubourg/Centre Pompidou) Paris's dedicated LGBTQ+ community centre. Offers:
- Individual counselling with affirming therapists
- Support groups for gay and bisexual men
- HIV and sexual health-related psychological support
- Coming out support at any age
Ligne Azur (LGBTQ+ Youth Line)
0810 20 30 40 — support for LGBTQ+ young people specifically.
Inter-LGBT and Regional LGBT Centres
Most major French cities have an association or centre LGBTQ+. Search "centre LGBT [city]" or via inter-lgbt.org for regional contacts.
HIV-Specific Mental Health
AIDES — Psychosocial Support
aides.org | Nationwide AIDES (France's largest HIV community organisation) offers psychosocial support to people living with HIV, people affected by HIV anxiety, and those navigating seroconversion or PrEP-related distress. Not just for people who are HIV-positive.
Find your nearest AIDES centre at aides.org. Services are free.
COHERE and Hôpitaux — Embedded Social Work
Major hospitals with infectious disease services (Saint-Louis, Tenon, Bichat in Paris) have social workers and psychologists embedded in the service. An HIV diagnosis or seroconversion triggers automatic access to this support — ask the team explicitly.
Accessing a Therapist (Psychothérapeute / Psychologue)
Via the Public System
France has a programme — Mon soutien psy — that offers 12 sessions of publicly-funded psychology per year, with a GP referral. Sessions are with Assurance Maladie-approved psychologists. Cost: you pay the psychologist fee (~€60) and Assurance Maladie reimburses most of it via your Mutuelle.
To access: ask your GP for a referral under "Mon soutien psy."
Finding an LGBTQ+-Affirming Therapist
- Centre LGBTQ+ de Paris — has its own therapists; also maintains a referral list for Paris and Île-de-France
- Doctolib.fr — search "psychologue" with your city; filter is not LGBTQ+-specific but you can email to ask before booking
- Psychology Today France (fr.psychologytoday.com) — searchable directory with LGBTQ+ filter
Chemsex-Specific Mental Health
For chemsex-related psychological support, see the chemsex guide. AIDES has developed specific expertise in supporting people navigating dependency and trauma in the context of chemsex.