Spanish Mental Health Crisis Line 024 — Help for Expats

If you or someone you love is in crisis right now, dial 024 from any Spanish phone. It is free, confidential, available 24 hours a day, and run by trained professionals. This guide walks you through 024, the other Spanish helplines, English-language options for expats, and how to plan ongoing mental health care with the right insurance behind you.

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If You Are in Crisis Right Now

You are not alone, and reaching out is the right thing to do. 024 is Spain's national suicide-prevention and mental health crisis line, launched in May 2022 by the Ministerio de Sanidad. It is free, confidential and answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by trained psychologists, social workers and mental health professionals.

You do not need to be at the point of suicide to call. 024 is there for anyone struggling with overwhelming thoughts, panic, grief, addiction, abuse, loneliness or despair — and for the family and friends of someone they are worried about. There is no judgement, no script and no time limit. You can stay anonymous. You can speak Spanish, and in some regions Catalan, Basque, Galician or English with a translator.

If there is an immediate risk to life — you have taken something, you are about to act, or someone in front of you is — dial 112 instead. The emergency services will dispatch a SAMUR, SUMMA or local ambulance with paramedics and, where needed, a psychiatric team. You will be treated free at the nearest hospital Urgencias Psiquiátricas regardless of your visa or insurance status.

This guide explains the difference between 024, 112, Télefono de la Esperanza and the rest, plus how to plan ongoing care with a private health policy that includes psychology and psychiatry.

024Spain's national 24/7 mental health crisis line — free, confidential

112Dial for an immediate life-threatening psychiatric emergency

365 daysOpen every day of the year, including bank holidays and Christmas

AnonymousYou do not have to give your name or any personal details

What's Covered in This Guide

A clear, supportive walk-through of every helpline an expat in Spain can reach, from the national 024 to English-language international options.

024: Spain's National Crisis Line

How 024.sanidad.gob.es works, who answers, what to expect, and how to use it from a Spanish or foreign mobile.

Teléfono de la Esperanza

The historic NGO helpline founded in 1971. Network of trained volunteers via telefonodelaesperanza.org, with local numbers in every province.

ANAR for Children & Young People

The Fundación ANAR helpline for under-18s, plus a separate line for the adults who care about them.

Urgencias Psiquiátricas

When and how to go to a hospital psychiatric emergency department, and what an involuntary admission looks like under Spanish law.

English-Language Options

International crisis lines staffed in English, plus the Spanish insurers and clinics with English-speaking psychology teams.

Ongoing Mental Health Care

How SALUD MENTAL ESPAÑA, Sanitas psychiatry and Caser Salud mental health benefits work for residents.

024 — How Spain's National Crisis Line Actually Works

024 was launched on 10 May 2022 by the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross and partner NGOs as Spain's first dedicated suicide-prevention helpline. It mirrors the UK's 116 123 (Samaritans) and the US 988 service.

Free from any phone. Mobile or landline, with or without credit, including pay-as-you-go SIMs. It does not show on your bill.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Including Christmas, Reyes, summer holidays — the times when emotional distress often peaks.
Answered by trained professionals. Mostly psychologists, social workers and mental health nurses — not volunteers. Calls are logged anonymously for service planning.
Confidential by default. You do not have to give your name, NIE or address. Information is only shared with emergency services if you are an immediate danger to yourself or someone else.
Languages. Spanish is the default. Catalan, Basque and Galician are available in those regions. English-speaking operators are reachable in some shifts but not guaranteed — ask ¿Habla inglés? at the start.
Open to everyone. Children, adolescents, adults, older people, tourists, undocumented residents, expats with or without TIE. There is no eligibility check.
For people worried about someone else too. If you are scared about a partner, child, friend or parent, you can call 024 to talk through what to do next.
It connects to local services. If clinically appropriate, the operator can arrange a warm handover to your regional mental health team, social services or the emergency services without you having to repeat the story.

What it is not: 024 is not a replacement for ongoing therapy or psychiatric treatment, and it cannot prescribe medication. Think of it as the first calm voice in a storm — it will help you decide what to do next.

When to Dial 024 vs 112 vs Teléfono de la Esperanza

All three save lives. They are designed for different moments.

Dial 112 if there is an immediate threat to life. Someone has taken pills, made a serious attempt, is on a ledge, or has a weapon. The operator will dispatch an ambulance and where needed a psychiatric team. Emergency services are free for everyone in Spain.
Dial 024 if you are in crisis but safe. Suicidal thoughts without immediate plans, severe panic, overwhelming despair, after a relapse, after a bereavement, after self-harm that does not need stitches. Also for family members trying to support someone in crisis.
Call Teléfono de la Esperanza if you need to talk for longer. A network of trained volunteers, with local numbers per province, available 24 hours for emotional support, loneliness, grief, relationship breakdown, addiction worries. Calls can run an hour or more.
Use ANAR (900 20 20 10) for children, teens and parents. Free, confidential, 24/7, with a separate adult line for parents worried about a young person.
Use your own GP or psychologist for non-urgent issues. If you are stable and want to start treatment, your centro de salud or private health policy is the route — helplines are not for booking therapy.
International numbers exist too. If you would rather speak in your mother tongue, the section below on English-language options has the international lines.

English-Language Options for Expats in Spain

If you cannot face the conversation in Spanish, English-speaking help exists. Here is where to find it.

Samaritans in Spain (English-language). The original UK-style volunteer line has English-speaking branches in Madrid, Barcelona, the Costa del Sol, Mallorca and the Canaries, often signposted by local English-language churches and expat associations. Hours vary by branch.
International Befrienders Worldwide. The global network befrienders.org has a country search that surfaces every English-language crisis line worldwide, including the Spanish branches.
UK Samaritans (calling from Spain). Dial +44 116 123 from a UK or Spanish mobile. Standard international call charges apply on landlines, but most modern UK and EU mobile plans include it.
US 988 (calling from Spain). The US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached on +1 800 273 8255 for callers outside the US. Chat is available at 988lifeline.org.
Crisis Text Line. Text-based support in English at crisistextline.org — useful if you cannot speak out loud.
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ youth). English-language crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people via thetrevorproject.org.
English-speaking therapists in Spain. Both Sanitas and Caser have English-speaking psychologists in their networks in major cities — ask your broker to confirm before you commit to a policy.
WHO & OMS guidance. The World Health Organization suicide-prevention hub has multilingual factsheets and a country-by-country directory of services.

Going to Urgencias Psiquiátricas at a Spanish Hospital

Major public and private hospitals have a dedicated psychiatric emergency department within the main Urgencias. It is the right place to go when a phone call is not enough and you need to be seen.

Where to go. Any A&E will see you, but the large teaching hospitals — La Paz and Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, Clínic and Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, Virgen del Rocío in Seville, La Fe in Valencia — have on-call psychiatrists 24/7.
What to expect at triage. A nurse asks about thoughts, plans, recent self-harm and substance use. Be honest — minimising will not get you home faster, it will get you a less appropriate plan.
Assessment by a psychiatrist. A duty psychiatrist will see you for 30-60 minutes, often with a resident. They decide between sending you home with a follow-up appointment, a short observation stay, or admission to the psychiatric unit.
You can ask for a family member. One acompañante is normally allowed for the assessment if you want them there. For minors, both parents stay.
Voluntary admission is the norm. Most psychiatric admissions in Spain are voluntary — you sign yourself in, you can sign yourself out (with medical advice).
Involuntary admission exists but is rare. Under Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil Article 763, an involuntary admission requires medical justification and judicial authorisation within 72 hours. It is reserved for cases where there is a clear danger to self or others and the person cannot consent.
Bring ID and your insurance card if you go private. The same paperwork rules apply as any other Urgencias — emergency care is unconditional but it is faster with documentation.
Discharge always comes with a plan. The informe de alta includes a follow-up appointment with the community mental health team (Centro de Salud Mental) within days, not weeks.

Ongoing Mental Health Care: Sanitas, Caser & the Public System

Crisis lines and Urgencias keep you safe in the worst moment. Recovery happens in regular therapy and, where needed, with the right medication. Here is how mental health care works in Spain.

Public mental health (free with TSI). Your centro de salud GP refers you to the regional community mental health team. Waits for routine psychology can be 2-6 months. Psychiatry is faster. Therapy is usually time-limited (8-12 sessions).
Private with Sanitas. Sanitas Salud policies typically include unlimited psychiatry, plus a capped number of psychology sessions per year (often 20-30), with English-speaking professionals in major cities. The Sanitas BluaU app lets you book video consultations with a psychologist within 48 hours.
Private with Caser Salud. Caser Salud includes psychiatry within the standard health benefits and offers psychology either on copay or with a session allowance, depending on the tier. The Caser network has clinics in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and the Costa del Sol.
Confederación SALUD MENTAL ESPAÑA. The national federation of mental health associations runs peer-support groups, family education and self-help programmes — many are free and several Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca branches run English groups.
Specialist services. Eating disorders, perinatal mental health, addictions and bereavement each have dedicated units within the larger hospitals — your GP or psychiatrist will refer.
Medication via receta electrónica. SSRIs, SNRIs and most psychiatric medication are subsidised on the Spanish public prescription system, dispensed at any pharmacy with your TSI card.
WHO context. The World Health Organization estimates that for every suicide there are more than 20 attempts — reaching out early genuinely changes the trajectory.

How to Help Someone Else Who Is Struggling

If you are reading this because you are worried about a partner, child, parent or friend, you are already doing something that matters. Here is what the evidence says works.

Ask directly and gently. "Are you thinking about ending your life?" does not plant the idea — decades of research confirm that. It signals that you can handle the answer.
Listen without fixing. Resist the urge to argue them out of their feelings or remind them of all they have to live for. Silence and presence are more powerful than reassurance.
Reduce immediate access to means. If there is medication, alcohol or anything else that could be used, ask if you can hold it for now. Most suicidal moments are time-limited and ambivalent.
Call 024 together. You can dial 024 and pass the phone over, or stay on speaker. The operator is used to family-supported calls.
Do not promise secrecy. You can promise to walk through it together, but never promise not to call 112 if their life is at risk.
Get help for yourself too. Supporting someone in crisis is exhausting. 024 will speak to you. So will Teléfono de la Esperanza. Your own GP is a good early step.
For a child or teenager, call ANAR 900 20 20 10. There is a parent line as well as the child line — both are free and confidential.

9 Practical Things to Know About Mental Health Care in Spain

Hard-won wisdom from expat clients who have navigated the system in Spain.

Spanish doctors take mental health seriously. The stigma is reducing fast, particularly after the post-pandemic focus. You will not be dismissed for asking.
You can self-refer to a private psychologist. No GP letter required. Your health insurer's app shows you the available English-speaking professionals.
Online therapy counts. Sanitas and Caser both reimburse video sessions with their network psychologists, which is invaluable in rural or coastal areas with fewer English-speaking options nearby.
Pharmacies are quietly supportive. The farmacéutico is a respected health professional and a good place to ask, calmly, about medication side effects or whether something needs urgent attention.
Sick leave for mental health is normal. Baja por ansiedad or baja por depresión are common and your employer cannot ask for the diagnosis — only the duration. The GP issues the note via the public system.
Free peer support exists. Anxiety, depression, bipolar and recovery groups run in most cities through SALUD MENTAL ESPAÑA affiliates and AA/NA fellowships, including English-language meetings on the coasts.
Insurance pre-existing conditions matter. Disclose previous mental health history on the application form — otherwise a claim can be refused later. A good broker explains exactly how it will be assessed.
The tarjeta de discapacidad can help if you are eligible. A recognised mental health disability of 33%+ unlocks workplace adjustments, tax allowances and a freedom-pass card — ask your psychiatrist about the assessment route.
Keep your prescription continuity. If you take antidepressants or other psychiatric medication, register with a GP within your first month in Spain so there is no gap — abrupt discontinuation makes everything harder.

6 Mistakes Expats Make Around Mental Health in Spain

The patterns we see most often, and how to avoid them.

Waiting until crisis to register with a GP. Sign up at your centro de salud or pick a private GP early so there is a relationship before you need one.
Assuming all therapy in Spain is in Spanish. English-speaking psychologists are widely available privately in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Marbella, Mallorca and Alicante — ask your insurer or broker.
Trying to import medication without a prescription. Bringing antidepressants from your home country in quantity can be questioned at customs. Get a Spanish prescription early instead.
Stopping medication because the box looks different. Spanish generics are equivalent and rigorously regulated. Always discuss any change with your prescriber, not the pharmacist or a forum.
Ignoring depression because "the weather is nice". Mental health does not respond to sunshine alone. The expat life carries grief, isolation and identity loss that deserves real support.
Not disclosing on the insurance application. Honesty about previous treatment, medication or hospital stays protects future claims. A skilled broker can sometimes negotiate cover where a direct application would be declined.

Why Expats Trust 247 Expat Insurance for Mental Health Cover

Mental health is health. A policy that includes proper psychology and psychiatry turns a frightening moment into a treatable one. Here is why expats choose us to set theirs up.

DGSFP-Registered

We are a fully registered Spanish insurance brokerage under the DGSFP — the same regulator overseeing every legal insurer in Spain.

English Throughout

Every conversation, every policy document and every claim is handled in clear English by a real human, not a chatbot.

7 Days a Week

Weekend worry, urgent claim or just need someone to talk through options? Our team is reachable seven days a week, including bank holidays.

Sanitas & Caser Specialists

We compare Sanitas and Caser policies side by side so you choose the one with the right psychology, psychiatry and English-speaking network for your situation.

Visa-Compliant Cover

Health policies that meet NLV, Digital Nomad and student visa requirements with full mental health benefits and no copays.

Discreet & Confidential

Sensitive disclosures are handled with care. We help you complete the medical history properly so future claims are protected.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions we hear from expats about 024 and mental health support in Spain.

Is 024 really free, even from a foreign mobile in Spain?

Yes. 024 is free from any phone physically connected to a Spanish network — including foreign SIMs roaming in Spain. It does not appear on itemised bills. If you are calling from outside Spain, you cannot reach 024 directly; use an international line such as Samaritans (+44 116 123) or the Befrienders Worldwide directory.

Can I call 024 in English?

English-speaking operators are available on some shifts but not guaranteed at all hours. Open the call with ¿Habla inglés? If no English operator is on shift, you will be offered a translator service or signposted to an English-language alternative such as Samaritans in Spain or the international lines listed above.

What happens if I call 024 anonymously?

You are entitled to stay anonymous. The operator will not pressure you to give details. Anonymous calls are still fully supported, including warm handovers to a regional service if you consent. The only time identifying information is sought without consent is when there is an immediate, identifiable risk to life and the operator needs to dispatch emergency services to a known location.

Will calling 024 affect my immigration status or visa?

No. 024 is a health service, separate from immigration. Calls are confidential and not shared with the Ministry of the Interior or Extranjería. Spanish residency renewals do not ask about mental health, and using a crisis line does not appear on any visa-relevant record.

Does my Spanish private health insurance cover psychology and psychiatry?

Most Sanitas and Caser policies include psychiatry within standard benefits and a capped number of psychology sessions per year (commonly 20-30 on Sanitas and a copay or allowance on Caser, depending on the tier). Always check the policy document, and disclose any pre-existing mental health history honestly at application so future claims are not refused.

Can I be forced into a psychiatric hospital in Spain?

Involuntary admission exists under Article 763 of the Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil and is reserved for cases where a person is a clear danger to themselves or others and cannot consent. It requires medical justification and judicial authorisation within 72 hours. The vast majority of psychiatric admissions in Spain are voluntary. You always have the right to a lawyer and a translator.

I am worried about my child. Where do I start?

Call Fundación ANAR on 900 20 20 10 — there is a child/teen line and a separate parent line, both free and confidential, 24 hours. For an immediate emergency dial 112. For ongoing care, your private health policy or your centro de salud paediatrician can refer to specialist child and adolescent mental health services (USMIJ in many regions).

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