Mental health
If you need mental healthcare, there are different ways to get support. You can find more information about mental healthcare providers in the Netherlands on the website Healthcare for Internationals.
Children
Children and adolescents up to the age of 18 can get support from the Youth Mental Health Services (jeugd-GGZ) if needed. You can ask your general practitioner for more information.
Students
Students from the University of Groningen can also visit the University Psychological Counselling Service. Their Service Centre consists of a team of psychologists who can help you with both personal and academic issues.
Mental healthcare and insurance
Mental healthcare costs may be covered by your health insurance. Read more about mental healthcare and insurance coverage.
Contact
If you or someone you know is experiencing serious mental health problems, you can always contact your general practitioner who can offer you help. If you are concerned that someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or if you are struggling with this yourself, you can call 0800-0113 or visit the website 113.
FAQ
If you haven’t been diagnosed before, that’s the very first step. If you are a student at the University of Groningen, you can start at the Student Service Center: they have a psychology service available. They can give recommendations for external therapists too, including helping you find an English-speaking medical professional.
If you already have a diagnosis and a GP, you can most likely book a free mental health therapy intake session, and request an English-speaking provider.
You can start by talking to your GP about it, and they may refer you to a specialist. Students can also seek help through their university: contact your study advisor and Student Service Centre (RUG) or Hanze Student Support (Hanze).
Many health insurance companies either partially of fully cover visits to a psychologist, if they are on a referral basis from your GP. But that is not the case for all insurance providers, or it may not be included in the basic coverage – ask your insurance provider to be sure, and inquire about adding mental healthcare coverage to your package (for an additional monthly fee).