Please note: The Circle Clinic does not provide emergency or crisis care. We can’t guarantee a quick reply to messages, so please don’t contact the clinic in an urgent situation. Use the services below instead.
Do you need help now?
If there is a life in danger
112
Emergency services, 24/7.
If you are having thoughts of suicide
0800 0113
113 Suicide Prevention. Free, 24/7. Or chat at 113.nl (also from abroad).
If it's urgent, but not life-threatening
088 427 47 00
Out-of-hours GP (huisartsenpost) for Leiden: De Limes. During office hours, call your own GP.
You can’t call the mental health crisis service yourself. Your GP, the huisartsenpost or 112 refer you. If you already have a therapist or GGZ team, contact them or their crisis line first.
On this page
Your GP and the POH-GGZ
If you’d like support through the Dutch healthcare system, your GP (huisarts) is the way in. Visits are free and don’t count towards your eigen risico (deductible).
Many GP practices have a POH-GGZ (praktijkondersteuner GGZ): a mental health practitioner who offers a number of short-term sessions within the practice. Ask your GP or the practice assistant for an appointment. POH-GGZ sessions are covered by basic insurance and don’t use your eigen risico. If you need more specialised care, your GP can refer you on.
Helplines in the Netherlands
Crisis and listening support
- 113 Suicide Prevention – 0800 0113 (free, 24/7)
- De Luisterlijn – 088 0767 000 (24/7, listening line, Dutch)
- MIND Hulplijn – 0900 1450 (Mon–Fri 09:00–21:00) · WhatsApp 06 1386 3803
- In je bol (ages 16–27) – 0800 0450 (free, daily 14:00–22:00)
Violence and abuse
- Veilig Thuis (domestic violence, child abuse) – 0800 2000 (free, 24/7)
- Centrum Seksueel Geweld (sexual violence) – 0800 0188 (free, anonymous, 24/7)
- Slachtofferhulp (victim support) – 0900 0101
- De Kindertelefoon (children, young people) – 0800 0432 (free, daily 11:00–21:00)
Identity and discrimination
- Switchboard (LGBTQIA+, Dutch and English) – 020 623 6565 (free, Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00)
- Discriminatie.nl (report discrimination) – 0800 0880 (free)
Other
- Police, non-emergency – 0900 8844
- ACCESS NL (practical help for internationals, not crisis) – 085 4000 338
Asking for help takes courage. Be brave for yourself.
Support by topic
Tap a topic to open it.
- 113.nl – 24/7 crisis support and information, including for people worried about someone else.
- zelfbeschadiging.nl – Information and peer support for people who self-harm and their loved ones.
- reasonstostay.org – A suicide prevention project. You can sign up to receive a hopeful letter, written by a real person, every week.
- proud2bme.nl – Free, anonymous community with chat support from peer experts and psychologists.
- humanconcern.nl – Specialist eating disorder care, covered by insurance, with therapists who have recovered themselves.
- jellinek.nl – 088 505 1220. Anonymous self-tests, information and treatment, in English too.
- aa-netherlands.org – English-speaking Alcoholics Anonymous, 020 625 6057 (24/7).
- aa-nederland.nl – Dutch-speaking Alcoholics Anonymous, 085 104 5390.
- nanederland.nl – Narcotics Anonymous, +31 85 4000 996.
- codependents-anonymous.nl – Support for codependent relationship patterns.
- anonieme-overeters.nl – 12-step peer support for compulsive eating.
- slaafws.org – Sex and love addiction recovery.
- centrumseksueelgeweld.nl – Confidential support after sexual violence, in English too.
- veiligthuishollandsmidden.nl – Local Veilig Thuis for domestic violence advice and support.
- fier.nl – Violence in close relationships, human trafficking and honour-based violence.
- slachtofferhulp.nl – Practical, emotional and legal support for victims of crime or accidents.
- kindertelefoon.nl – Confidential line for children and young people.
- switchboard.nl – Free, anonymous LGBTQIA+ helpline in Dutch and English, now also covering Genderpraatjes (trans, non-binary and questioning young people).
- transvisie.nl – Information and contact groups for trans people and their loved ones.
- cocleiden.nl – Local LGBTQIA+ community in Leiden.
- roze50plus.nl – Community for LGBTQIA+ people over 50.
- lgbtasylumsupport.nl – Support for LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers.
- humanitas.nl – Free volunteer grief support, bereavement groups and buddy programmes.
- ixtanoa.nl – Free walk-in recovery support run by people with lived experience. No referral needed.
International support
Travelling, or more at home speaking to someone in your own country or language? findahelpline.com lists free, verified helplines in 175+ countries. befrienders.org is a worldwide network of listening centres.
| Country | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| UK & Ireland | Samaritans 116 123 (free, 24/7) · text SHOUT to 85258 (UK) or 50808 (Ireland) |
| USA | 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) · text HOME to 741741 |
| Canada | Call or text 988 |
| Australia | Lifeline 13 11 14 |
| Germany | TelefonSeelsorge 0800 111 0 111 (free, 24/7) |
| Belgium | 1813 (Dutch) · 0800 32 123 (French) |
| France | 3114 (free, 24/7) |
| Spain | 024 (free, 24/7, including English) |
| Italy | Telefono Amico 02 2327 2327 |
| India | Tele-MANAS 14416 (free, 24/7, many languages) · iCall 9152987821 |
| UAE | 800 4673 (800-HOPE), call or WhatsApp, daily 08:00–20:00 |
- The Trevor Project (USA) – 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people.
- Trans Lifeline (USA & Canada) – Peer line run by and for trans people.
- Switchboard LGBT+ (UK) – 0800 0119 100.
- SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline (USA) – Peer support for older LGBTQ+ adults.
- Rainbow Railroad – Helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution find safety.
- 7cups.com – Free chat with trained volunteers in 30+ languages. Peer support, not crisis care.
- BlackLine – 1-800-604-5841 (call or text, 24/7). Peer support centring Black, Brown, Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ people. Calls are never shared with law enforcement.
- LGBT National Help Center – 1-888-843-4564 (Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00, Sat 09:00–14:00 US Pacific time). Free, confidential peer support, plus online chat.
- Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line – 1-888-407-4515 (evenings, US Eastern time). Answered by peers with lived experience of psychiatric diagnoses, trauma or addiction.
- Fireside Project – 62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433), call or text, daily 11:00–23:00 US Pacific time. Free peer support during and after psychedelic experiences.
- StrongHearts Native Helpline – 1-844-762-8483 (call, text or chat, 24/7). Domestic and sexual violence support for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) · text START to 88788. Deaf Hotline (videophone): 1-855-812-1001.
- RAINN – 1-800-656-4673 (24/7) · text HOPE to 64673. Support after sexual violence.
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline – 1-833-852-6262 (call or text, 24/7, English and Spanish). For pregnant and postpartum people and their families.
When you're ready for ongoing support
Therapy is not crisis care, but it can help once things feel a little steadier.
You don’t need a GP referral to start therapy at The Circle Clinic. You can contact us directly, and we’ll begin with a free 30-minute call to see whether we’re a good fit. As a private practice, we aren’t covered by Dutch basic health insurance, though some international insurance policies do cover sessions. We work with adults in English, Italian, Spanish and Estonian.
No matter what your brain is telling you, you deserve support.
The Circle Clinic does not provide emergency or crisis care. If you are in danger or need urgent support, call 112, 113 (0800 0113) or your huisartsenpost.
