There is immediate danger
Call 112 if there is an immediate threat to life or direct help from emergency services is needed.
Call 112Urgent mental healthcare and crisis service
Mental health crisis service: who to call in a psychiatric crisis.
In acute mental distress, it matters to know who to contact now: 112, 113, your GP, the out-of-hours GP service, your clinician or the mental health crisis service. This page makes the route as clear as possible for the Netherlands.
In immediate danger, call 112. If you are thinking about suicide, or are worried about someone, 113 is available in the Netherlands day and night by chat and phone: 113 or freephone 0800-0113.
Now
Which route fits the situation?
This overview helps distinguish the options; it does not replace a professional assessment. When in doubt, you may ask for help.
You are thinking about suicide
In the Netherlands, you can call or chat with 113 anonymously. You can also contact them if you are worried about someone else. 113 does not replace 112 or medical assessment in immediate danger.
It cannot wait, but there is no immediate danger
Call your GP. Outside office hours, call the out-of-hours GP service; the number is on your GP's website or answering service. They can involve a mental health crisis service if needed.
Find information about urgent careYou already have a clinician
Use the urgent number you agreed with them or contact your clinician. If you are unsure, ask explicitly which crisis arrangement applies to you.
What is the crisis service?
Not one general number, but an urgent assessment route
A mental health crisis service assesses acute psychiatric situations. In many regions, contact runs through the GP or out-of-hours GP service. The exact organisation can differ by region.
That can feel confusing if you have already been waiting a long time for help. It is especially important then that someone assesses urgency and safety with you.
What you can expect from first contact
- Someone listens to what is happening now and asks about safety.
- They consider what help fits the situation at that time.
- A crisis service can be involved if needed.
- Always ask what the next step is and who to contact if things worsen.
For people close to someone
You do not have to carry this alone
Are you worried about someone? Take those concerns seriously. In immediate danger, call 112. If there are thoughts of suicide, you can also call or chat with 113 yourself to talk it through. For a mental health crisis, the GP or out-of-hours GP service can assess what help is needed.
Where things can go wrong
A crisis is not an administrative error message
Only after the immediate route is clear does the next question arise: who remains responsible when the acute danger subsides?
1
There is distress, but no clear entry point
Someone looks for help and is sent from phone number to phone number.
2
A waiting time is treated as the solution
An existing referral or registration does not automatically mean someone is available now.
3
A person close to them carries the coordination
Family or friends try to organise safety without knowing where they can turn.
4
The handover is unclear
After the acute moment, it is not always clear who monitors the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about mental health crisis services and urgent mental healthcare
Can I call the mental health crisis service myself?
That differs by region. Often a GP or out-of-hours GP service first assesses the situation and involves a mental health crisis service when needed.
What if I am already on a waiting list?
A waiting list does not resolve an acute deterioration. In a crisis, use the route above and say that you are already waiting for care.
What if I do not know whether it is serious enough?
Doubt can be a reason to ask for help. A GP, out-of-hours GP service or 113 can help you think through what is needed now.
Sources and review
The urgent route on this page was checked against Thuisarts, 113 Suicide Prevention and the Dutch care standard for acute psychiatry. Zorgfuik is not a crisis service and does not provide individual medical assessments.
Last checked: 22 July 2026.