Mental health emergency: numbers for parents

Call 112 when a life is in danger

Call 112 straight away if your child talks about killing themselves and has a plan, has taken pills or other substances, is badly injured, or is so confused or agitated that you cannot keep them safe. Stay with your child until help arrives.

You can also go directly to the emergency department of a children’s hospital or of the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic (Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie). They take emergencies day and night, without a referral.

Thoughts of suicide

Take every remark seriously, the quiet ones too. Ask directly: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” Asking does not put the idea into a child’s head.

Remove what could be used: medicines, including the ones in the bathroom cabinet, sharp objects, car keys. Do not leave your child alone. Then get help: 112 or the psychiatric clinic. If there is no immediate danger, the medical on-call service on 116 117.

Self-harm without a wish to die

Some teenagers cut or burn themselves to get through pressure, without wanting to die. Without suicidal thoughts this is usually no case for 112. It still needs a professional assessment within days: Sprechstunde, paediatrician or the outpatient clinic (Ambulanz) of the child psychiatry. Look after the wound, stay calm, do not punish. If the wound is deep or your child says they want to die, call 112.

When there is no immediate danger

• 116 117: medical on-call service (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst), day and night, when it cannot wait until the practice opens.
• 116 111: Nummer gegen Kummer for children and teenagers, Monday to Saturday 2 pm to 8 pm, anonymous.
• 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222, also 116 123: Telefonseelsorge, day and night, anonymous, also for parents.
• 0800 111 0 550: Elterntelefon for parents, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday and Thursday until 7 pm.
• krisenchat.de: chat for young people under 25, day and night, also via WhatsApp.

Violence at home

If your child is in danger from another person, call the police on 110. The child’s safety comes before everything else, including family loyalty.

Sentences in German

• „Mein Kind ist in einer psychischen Krise. Wir brauchen sofort Hilfe.“ (My child is in a mental health crisis. We need help now.)
• „Mein Kind hat gesagt, dass es nicht mehr leben will.“ (My child said they do not want to live any more.)
• „Sprechen Sie Englisch?“ (Do you speak English?)
• „Unsere Adresse ist …“ (Our address is …)

German emergency page with regional crisis services →Printable emergency card (German) →