For the full picture — why mental health matters specifically for gay and bisexual men, the types of support available, and how to find a good therapist — see Mental Health: The Other Half of the System first.

This guide covers the mental health landscape across Europe: where to find support and how to navigate systems that aren't always built with you in mind. Every country listed below has its own detailed guide — use those for full service listings, insurance mechanics, and cultural context. This file is the cross-border quick reference.

EU-Wide: Crisis Lines

112 — Emergency services. Works in every EU country. If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or having a psychiatric emergency, call 112.

116 123 — The European crisis line number, staffed in most EU member states. Availability and language support varies by country.

ILGA-Europe maintains a directory of LGBTQ+ crisis resources by country at ilga-europe.org. If you're in a country not listed below, this is a reliable starting point.

Country-by-Country: Crisis Lines & Key Services

United Kingdom

  • Switchboard LGBT+: 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm daily) — LGBTQ+-specific phone and chat
  • Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7) — crisis support, non-judgmental
  • Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7) — text-based crisis support
  • Antidote at London Friend: LGBTQ+ substance use and mental health
  • Pink Therapy: Directory of affirming therapists — pinktherapy.com
  • NHS Talking Therapies: Free CBT via GP referral; ask explicitly for an affirming practitioner

Ireland

  • Switchboard Ireland: 1800 929 539 (free; evenings, Monday–Friday) — LGBTQ+-specific
  • Samaritans Ireland: 116 123 (24/7, free)
  • Pieta House: 1800 247 247 (24/7, free) — suicide and self-harm crisis
  • LGBTQ+ Ireland: lgbtqireland.ie — information, support, and referrals

Access note: HSE mental health waiting lists of 6–12 months are common. Private LGBTQ+-affirming therapy is concentrated in Dublin; Switchboard Ireland can help identify remote options.

France

  • 3114 — National suicide prevention line (24/7)
  • SOS Amitié: 09 72 39 40 50 (24/7) — general emotional support
  • Le Refuge: 0800 246 246 (free) — for LGBTQ+ people under 25 or rejected by family
  • AIDES: Major HIV/sexual health NGO with social work and counselling access

Access note: GP referral (médecin traitant) required for publicly reimbursed psychiatry. Private psychologists are not reimbursed without referral; expect €70–120/session privately.

Germany

  • Telefonseelsorge: 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 (24/7, free)
  • Schwulenberatung Berlin: schwulenberatungberlin.de — comprehensive LGBTQ+ counselling, sliding scale
  • Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe / local Aidshilfe: Free psychosocial counselling via aidshilfe.de

Access note: GKV covers licensed psychotherapy with GP referral. Public waiting times are long; community organisation counselling is often free and faster.

Netherlands

  • 113 Suicide Prevention: 113 or 0800 0113 (24/7, free)
  • Schorer (part of GGD Amsterdam): Long-running LGBTQ+ mental health service
  • COC Nederland: National LGBTQ+ organisation — regional peer support and referrals

Access note: Dutch public mental health (GGZ) covered by insurance after the annual deductible (eigen risico); referral via huisarts. Waiting times typically 3–6 months.

Spain

  • Teléfono LGTBI (FELGTBI+): 900 814 000 (free, Monday–Friday)
  • Teléfono de la Esperanza: 717 003 717 (24/7)
  • COGAM (Madrid) / BCN Checkpoint (Barcelona): Community mental health support

Access note: Public mental health via primary care referral. Private psychology common; €50–90/session. Some community organisations offer sliding scale support.

Italy

  • Telefono Amico: 02 2327 2327 — emotional support (not LGBTQ+-specific)
  • Arcigay: National LGBTQ+ organisation; local chapters can signpost to support

Access note: Public Centro di Salute Mentale (CSM) is free but has long waits and patchy LGBTQ+ competence outside major cities. Private psychology €60–100/session in cities.

Poland

  • Telefon Zaufania dla Dorosłych w Kryzysie Emocjonalnym: 116 123 (24/7)
  • Lambda Warszawa: lambdawarszawa.org — LGBTQ+ legal, psychological, and community support
  • KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia): Legal and support resources; list of affirming practitioners

Poland's political environment means healthcare providers' attitudes vary significantly. Lambda and KPH maintain lists of affirming practitioners. If you are in a hostile family or work environment, Lambda Warszawa's support services are specifically equipped to assist.

Hungary

  • Háttér Support Line: +36 1 329 3380 (evenings, Monday–Friday) — LGBTQ+-specific
  • Háttér Society: hatter.hu — psychological support, legal advice, crisis support
  • Kék Vonal (Blue Line): 116 111 (crisis line)

Hungary's 2021 legislation has created a chilling effect on LGBTQ+ services. Háttér Society continues operating but faces ongoing legal pressure. LGBTQ+-affirming therapists outside Budapest are very limited.

Romania

  • ACCEPT Romania: acceptromania.ro — Bucharest-based; support services and referrals
  • Ieșire în Decor (Cluj-Napoca): Regional organisation for those outside Bucharest
  • Telefonul Copilului: 116 111 (crisis line; primarily for young people)

Access note: LGBTQ+-competent services are largely concentrated in Bucharest. Telehealth with Romanian-speaking affirming therapists is an increasingly available option.

Bulgaria

  • GLAS Foundation (Sofia): glasfoundation.org — LGBTQ+ support and mental health counselling referrals
  • Hotline for psychological support: 0800 18 686 (national crisis support)

Access note: Very limited LGBTQ+-specific mental health provision. GLAS Foundation is the most reliable starting point for finding affirming support.

Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland)

The Nordic countries have more affirming social environments and better baseline mental health infrastructure.

Sweden — Full guide

  • RFSL: rfsl.se — national LGBTQ+ organisation; counselling referrals
  • Mind Självmordslinjen: 90101 (24/7)

Denmark — Full guide

  • LGBT Denmark: lgbtdanmark.dk — community support and referrals
  • Livslinjen: 70 201 201 (crisis line)

Norway — Full guide

  • FRI: fri.no — LGBTQ+ support resources
  • Kirkens SOS: 22 40 00 40 (24/7)

Finland — Full guide

  • Seta ry: seta.fi — national LGBTQ+ organisation; peer support and referrals
  • Mieli ry: 09 2525 0111 (crisis line)

Finding an Affirming Therapist

For the full guide — what to ask, what to look out for, and how to vet someone properly — see the general guide.

For online/teletherapy across borders: platforms like BetterHelp operate across Europe and allow filtering for LGBTQ+-affirming therapists. Quality varies — use the screening questions in the guide above before committing to anyone. Some therapists on directories like Pink Therapy (UK) also offer cross-border video sessions.

☎️ Pan-European Emotional Support (116 123)

One of the most practical ways the EU supports its citizens is through the "Harmonised services of social value" (Decision 2007/116/EC). The EU reserved specific 116-prefix phone numbers to provide identical social services across all member states.

Call 116 123 for Emotional Support No matter which EU country you are in, dialing 116 123 connects you to a free, emotional support helpline. If you are experiencing severe anxiety about an HIV scare, severe isolation, or navigating a difficult chemsex comedown in a foreign country, this number will route you to a local listening service (such as the Samaritans or local equivalents).

  • 112 (Emergency): If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself, or if someone you are with is experiencing a severe psychiatric crisis, dial 112. It is the universal emergency number across the EU, and operators usually speak English in addition to the local language.

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