Mental healthcare in Portugal is available through the public SNS, private psychologists and psychiatrists, community and charity services, and national support lines. Newcomers do not need to wait for a crisis before asking for help. The best route depends on whether you need routine therapy, psychiatric assessment, medication, urgent support or immediate emergency intervention.

If there is immediate danger: call 112. If you or someone else is experiencing suicidal thoughts, self-harm risk or needs specialised suicide-prevention support, call Portugal’s 1411 — Linha Nacional de Prevenção do Suicídio e Apoio Psicológico. It is free and available 24 hours a day, every day.

Where to start

  • Routine or ongoing mental-health concern: contact your centro de saúde/USF or a private psychologist/psychiatrist.
  • Unsure what help you need: call SNS 24 — 808 24 24 24 for health triage and access to psychological counselling.
  • Suicidal thoughts or self-harm: call 1411, Portugal’s dedicated national suicide-prevention line.
  • Immediate danger or life-threatening emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department.
  • Child or teenager who needs someone to talk to: call 116 111 — Linha de Apoio à Criança / SOS Criança.

Mental healthcare through the SNS

Your public-health route will often begin with primary care. A family doctor or other health-centre clinician can assess the problem, provide appropriate treatment and refer to specialist mental-health services when required. People without an assigned family doctor should not assume that mental-health care is therefore unavailable: ask the health centre how unassigned patients are currently being seen, or use SNS24 for triage.

Specialist public services include psychiatry and psychology within local health units and hospitals. Access, referral arrangements and waiting times vary. For the general healthcare route, see our guides to health centres and USFs, family doctors and hospitals, referrals and specialists.

Psychologist or psychiatrist?

A psychologist provides psychological assessment and interventions such as psychotherapy but is not a medical doctor and does not ordinarily prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specialising in mental health and can diagnose medical/psychiatric conditions and prescribe medication. Some people use both.

When choosing a psychologist, verify professional registration through the Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP) directory. The directory exists specifically so the public can confirm that a psychologist is legally registered to practise in Portugal.

Private mental healthcare

You can normally contact a private psychologist or psychiatrist directly. Private care can be useful when you want faster access, a particular therapeutic approach, appointments in another language, continuity with one professional or a specific location/online format.

Large private hospital groups such as CUF, Hospital da Luz and Lusíadas Saúde offer mental-health services in parts of their networks. Independent psychologists and clinics are also common. Verify the professional, language, price, cancellation policy and whether the consultation is psychology, psychotherapy or psychiatry before booking.

If you have private health insurance, check whether psychology/psychiatry is included, whether a referral or pre-authorisation is required, how many sessions are covered and whether the professional is in-network. See Insurance in Portugal and Private healthcare and health insurance.

1411 — suicide prevention and psychological support

Portugal’s Linha Nacional de Prevenção do Suicídio uses the number 1411. It is a free, 24/7 national service staffed by professionals with mental-health and suicidology training, including clinical psychologists and specialist mental-health nurses. It operates autonomously while coordinating with SNS24.

You do not need to wait until somebody is actively attempting suicide to use a suicide-prevention service. The line is specifically intended for situations involving suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and can also guide people concerned about someone else. If there is immediate danger, use 112.

Sociedade Portuguesa de Suicidologia — find help provides a useful current list of crisis and emotional-support options.

Other emotional-support lines

  • SNS 24: 808 24 24 24 — health triage and psychological counselling.
  • SOS Voz Amiga: 213 544 545 / 912 802 669 / 963 524 660 — emotional support and suicide prevention; check the current operating hours on the official/current government support-line listing.
  • Conversa Amiga: another emotional-support service; check current contacts/hours through official/current listings before calling.
  • Linha Nacional de Emergência Social: 144 for social-emergency situations.
  • Domestic violence information/support: 800 202 148. If there is immediate danger, call 112.
  • APAV victim support: 116 006.
  • SOS Droga: 1414 for drug-related support/information.

Government contact lists can change, so use the current gov.pt useful support lines page rather than saving an old internet list indefinitely.

For children and teenagers: Portugal’s Kindertelefoon-type service

Portugal has a close equivalent to the Dutch Kindertelefoon: Linha de Apoio à Criança / SOS Criança — 116 111. Gov.pt describes it as a free, 24-hour service where children can talk about problems and issues that directly affect them. It is not limited to a narrowly defined psychiatric diagnosis.

There are also child-protection and victim-support routes. The IPDJ child and youth support page lists 116 111, the Children’s Line, Social Emergency Line and APAV among relevant services. In immediate danger, use 112.

Free psychology for young people: Cheques Cuida-te

Portugal expanded its youth psychology scheme in 2026. Cheques Cuida-te – Psicologia are available for eligible young people aged 12 to 35 inclusive. The programme provides free psychology consultations through participating registered psychologists. Applications are made through gov.pt; minors require the applicable parental/legal-representative authorisation.

The programme is intended as first-line preventive/psychological support. It is not a substitute for specialised clinical services in situations such as current suicide risk or severe/complex mental illness. The OPP states that the beneficiary does not pay for covered consultations.

See the OPP Cheques Cuida-te information and current gov.pt/IPDJ application information.

Language matters

If you are more comfortable discussing mental health in English, Dutch or another language, ask before booking whether the professional can conduct the entire clinical consultation in that language. Do not assume that an English-language website means every clinician offers therapy in English. Private directories and clinics often make language searching easier; professional registration should still be checked where applicable.

Medication and prescriptions

Psychiatric medicines require appropriate medical assessment and prescription. If you arrive in Portugal already taking medication, bring the medicine name, active ingredient, dose and relevant medical documentation. Do not stop or substitute prescribed psychiatric medication solely because the Portuguese brand name is different. See our Pharmacies and medicines in Portugal guide.

If cost is the problem

Start with the SNS/public route and ask specifically about available psychology or mental-health services. If you are 12–35, check Cheques Cuida-te. Universities, municipalities, charities and community organisations may also operate targeted services, but eligibility and availability vary. If comparing private care, ask the full consultation price and whether reduced-rate, online or insurance-network appointments exist.

Useful contacts to save

Newcomer checklist

  1. For routine help, contact your health centre or a registered private professional.
  2. Verify psychologists in the OPP directory.
  3. Check insurance coverage before private treatment.
  4. If aged 12–35, check eligibility for Cheques Cuida-te – Psicologia.
  5. Save 1411, SNS24 and 112 in your phone.
  6. For a child who wants confidential support/talk, remember 116 111.
  7. Bring details of existing diagnoses, medication and previous treatment when moving countries.

Last verified: 2 October 2026. Crisis-line hours and programme eligibility can change; the national 1411 service is established by Portuguese law as a free 24/7 service. Always use 112 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.