Getting Mental Health Help in Sweden

How to get mental health help in Sweden

Start with your local vårdcentral. If you are unsure where to turn, call 1177 for advice from a nurse, any time of day. For ongoing psychiatric care, your health centre can refer you on, and in many regions you can refer yourself directly. If it is an emergency, call 112.

Sweden's healthcare is run by 21 regions, not one national authority – that is why details like self-referral differ by region. The steps below are the general map; check 1177.se for your own.

Start with your health centre (vårdcentral)

A vårdcentral is almost always the first place to go if you are struggling with your mental health, just as it is for a physical illness. 1177, Sweden's national healthcare guide, says it directly: your local health centre is almost always the first place to contact if you fall ill.

At a health centre you can book an appointment with a doctor, nurse or, at some centres, a psychologist. They assess what you need and either help you there or refer you on to specialist psychiatric care.

You can search for health centres near you on 1177.se and choose one to register with – Swedes call this att lista sig (to list yourself). If you are unsure how it works in your region, ask the health centre or 1177.

Calling 1177 and using 1177.se

1177 is Sweden's telephone advice line and website for healthcare. Call 1177 any time, day or night, and a nurse will listen to what is going on and tell you what to do next – see a doctor, go to a health centre, or wait and monitor how you feel.

The call itself is free, aside from your normal call charges. In some regions, you can get help in English or other languages, though this is not guaranteed everywhere – ask when you call. 1177.se also has pages in English, a good starting point if the system feels unfamiliar.

Psychiatric care and self-referral

If your health centre decides you need specialist psychiatric care, they will refer you on. In several regions, you can also refer yourself directly – an egenremiss – without going through them first.

Self-referral usually means filling in a form on 1177.se or on paper, describing what you are struggling with. A team reviews it and contacts you by phone or post.

Not every region offers self-referral for every kind of psychiatric care. Search "psykiatri" with your region's name on 1177.se to see what applies where you live, or ask your health centre.

Emergency help: 112 and psychiatric emergency care

If your life, or someone else's, is in danger right now, call 112 – Sweden's number for police, fire and ambulance. It works the same for a mental health crisis as for a physical one.

For psychiatric problems that are serious but not life-threatening, you can go straight to a psykiatrisk akutmottagning without an appointment. These operate around the clock and assess adults with acute psychiatric conditions. 1177.se lists the one nearest you.

If your thoughts are about ending your life, do not wait for an appointment anywhere. Mind Självmordslinjen, a Swedish suicide helpline, is open 24 hours a day on 90101, with a chat on Mind's website too. Find these numbers again in the crisis section of our English hub.

Getting care in English and the right to an interpreter

You have the right to a free interpreter (tolk) if you do not speak Swedish well enough to describe how you feel. Tell the clinic you need one when you book, and they will usually arrange it.

The interpreter can be in the room with you, on speakerphone, or connected by video, and is bound by confidentiality like healthcare staff. It is best not to rely on a partner, friend or child to translate – they are not sworn to secrecy, and misunderstandings are more likely.

Some regions also offer 1177's phone advice in English directly, without an interpreter – ask when you call. 1177.se has an English-language section with general information about how the Swedish system works.

Student health, occupational health and private care

If you are studying, your university's studenthälsan (student health service) offers counselling and support for stress, low mood and anxiety. It is usually free and needs no referral – check your university's website for how to book.

If you are employed, ask your employer whether they use a företagshälsovård (occupational health service). Not every employer offers one, but many do, especially for work-related stress or a return to work after sick leave – see our guide to sick leave for burnout in Sweden.

You can also pay for private care outside the public system, without a referral – a shorter wait, but not a replacement for psychiatric care in serious conditions.

When to seek help now

Do not wait for things to get worse before you reach out. If you have been struggling for more than a couple of weeks, if it is affecting your sleep, work or relationships, or if you simply do not know where to start – call your vårdcentral or 1177 this week, not "eventually".

Unsure whether you need a psychologist, a psychotherapist or something else, our guide to psychologists, therapists and coaches in Sweden explains what each title means and what is protected by law.

Coaching cannot treat depression, anxiety or trauma, and makes no diagnosis. What it can do is sit alongside care – with the habits and decisions around getting well, such as pacing a return to work after exhaustion disorder. If that is useful once the right care is in place, book a session with CoachOnline.se in English.

Questions about mental health help in Sweden

How do I get mental health help in Sweden as a newcomer?

Start with your local vårdcentral (health centre) – call 1177 first if you're not sure what to do. They can treat you directly or refer you on to psychiatric care.

What is a vårdcentral, and why should I go there first?

A vårdcentral is a local health centre with doctors, nurses and sometimes psychologists. It's almost always the first place to contact for both physical and mental health problems in Sweden.

What does 1177 do, and is it free?

1177 is a phone line and website for healthcare advice, answered by nurses around the clock. The call is free apart from your normal call charges, and some regions offer help in English.

Can I refer myself to psychiatric care in Sweden?

In many regions, yes – this is called egenremiss (self-referral), usually done through 1177.se. Not every region offers it for every type of care, so check your own region.

Is mental illness treated as an emergency in Sweden?

In serious cases, yes. Call 112 if there is immediate danger. For serious but non-life-threatening psychiatric problems, you can go straight to a psykiatrisk akutmottagning (psychiatric emergency department) without an appointment.

Can I get healthcare in English in Sweden?

Sometimes directly – some regions offer 1177 advice in English – and always with an interpreter if you need one. 1177.se also has an English-language section with general information.

Do I have a right to an interpreter?

Yes. Tell the clinic when you book that you need an interpreter (tolk). It's free, confidential, and can be arranged in person, by phone or by video.

What if I'm a student or have a job – is there other support?

Students can use studenthälsan (student health service) at their university, usually free and without a referral. Employees can ask about företagshälsovård (occupational health service) through their employer.