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Mental Health Support in Portugal

Researched and written with AI tools from official sources. How we make our guides

Where to get mental health help in Portugal: the SNS 24 counselling line in English, your family doctor, hospital care, medicines, and what to do in a crisis.

The Portugal Brief 6 min read

Mental Health Support in Portugal

Last verified: October 2026.

Who this is for

  • You live in Portugal and are struggling with stress, anxiety, low mood, or another mental health problem.
  • You are worried about a partner, friend, or family member.
  • You take medication for your mental health and need to keep it going after a move.

Not for you if: you need to know what to do in a medical emergency of any kind. Read Medical Emergencies in Portugal instead.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 112. The call is free.

For support now, call the SNS 24 health line on 808 24 24 24 and ask for psychological counselling (aconselhamento psicológico). Psychologists answer, 24 hours a day, in Portuguese or English. For ongoing care, see your family doctor (médico de família) at your health centre. The doctor can treat you, refer you to a psychologist at the health centre, or refer you to hospital psychiatry. SNS consultations are free. Waits for ongoing therapy can be long, so make the first call early.

If you need help right now

Call 112 if someone is in danger. This includes a risk that you or someone else may be harmed. The call is free.

Call SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24 if you need to talk to someone. The psychological counselling service is part of the SNS 24 line. When the government last described it, you chose option 4 in the menu. Menus can change, so listen to the options.

  • Psychologists answer every call.
  • It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • It has worked in English since 2022.
  • If the psychologist thinks you or someone else is in danger, they transfer the call to INEM, the emergency medical service.
  • If you need more than counselling, they can pass you to the SNS 24 nurse triage service.

A call to SNS 24 costs the same as a call to a landline.

Going to hospital. If SNS 24 or your health centre sends you to a hospital emergency department, you pay no fee. If you walk in without a referral and go home the same day, you may pay a user fee, unless you are exempt. See Medical Emergencies in Portugal.

Getting ongoing care through the SNS

The national health service (SNS) treats mental health through two levels of care.

1. Your health centre. Health centres are the first stop for mild to moderate problems, such as anxiety and depression. Your family doctor can:

  • assess you and start treatment
  • prescribe medication
  • refer you to a psychologist at your health centre group
  • refer you to the hospital's psychiatry service if your problem is more serious

2. Hospital mental health services. Hospitals run psychiatry and mental health services for more serious or complex problems. You usually reach them through a referral from your family doctor.

Waiting times. Expect a wait for psychology and psychiatry appointments. The health regulator found in 2023 that health centres have fewer psychologists than the national target in every region. No official waiting time is published. Use the SNS 24 line while you wait.

What it costs. SNS consultations, including psychology and psychiatry, carry no user fee. Fees apply only to some emergency visits without a referral.

If you are not registered yet. Register at the health centre for your address and ask for a family doctor. Bring your passport or ID card, your residence document, your NIF (tax number), and proof of address. See Getting an SNS Número de Utente.

If you have a long-term illness. If your hospital has a psychology service, you can ask your hospital doctor to refer you. Some patient associations also offer free psychological support.

Private care and insurance

You can also book a private psychologist or psychiatrist directly, without a referral. Prices vary, and you pay the full cost unless you have insurance.

Many private health insurance plans cover some psychology and psychiatry, often with limits on the number of sessions. Read the policy before you book. See Private Health Insurance in Portugal.

Medication

Prescriptions. Prescriptions in Portugal are usually electronic. Take the details your doctor gives you to a pharmacy to collect your medicines. See Using Pharmacies in Portugal.

What you pay. When an SNS doctor prescribes a medicine, the state pays part of the price: 90%, 69%, 37%, or 15%, depending on the medicine. Ask the pharmacist for the cheapest equivalent, because a pricier brand can cost you the difference. Low-income pensioners pay less. See Paying Less for Prescription Medicines.

If you are moving with medication. Bring enough to cover the first weeks, and a letter from your doctor with the name of the medicine and the dose. Book an appointment with your family doctor soon after you register, so there is no gap in your treatment. The Portuguese doctor decides what to prescribe here.

Time off work

If your mental health stops you working, a doctor can give you a temporary incapacity certificate (certificado de incapacidade temporária), often called baixa médica. The health service sends it to Segurança Social automatically. You may then get sickness benefit. See Claiming Sickness Allowance in Portugal.

Common pressures after a move

Moving country is a big change, even when it was your choice. Many people feel some of these in the first year:

  • Loneliness. You have left friends and family, and new friendships take time.
  • Language strain. Getting through the day in a language you are still learning is tiring.
  • A changed sense of self. Your work, your role, and your confidence may all shift.
  • Strain on relationships. Partners and children may settle at different speeds.
  • Grief. You may miss people and places you chose to leave. That is normal.

These feelings often ease as you settle. If they do not, or if they get worse, talk to someone. Early help is easier to get than crisis help.

Looking after yourself

  • Build a routine. Regular meals, sleep, and a few fixed points in the week help.
  • Move every day. Walking outdoors counts.
  • Meet people regularly. A language class, a sports club, or volunteering gives you the same faces each week.
  • Keep in touch with home, with regular calls you can look forward to.
  • Learn some Portuguese. Each step makes daily life less tiring.

What this means for you

  • Save two numbers in your phone now: 112 for emergencies and 808 24 24 24 for SNS 24.
  • You can ask SNS 24 for psychological counselling in English, at any hour, for the cost of a local call.
  • Register with a health centre and get a family doctor. It is your route to free psychology and psychiatry.
  • Expect waits for therapy, and use the SNS 24 line in the meantime.
  • Do not stop medication suddenly after a move. Bring a supply and see your family doctor early.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your health or someone else's, contact SNS 24 or a doctor.

Sources

This guide is written from official sources and, where relevant, organisations' own websites.

Last verified October 2026. Rules and fees change; check the official source before acting.

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