Guidance

Austria: Support for British nationals experiencing mental health difficulties

Published 27 March 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/austria-mental-health-support-abroad/austria-support-for-british-nationals-experiencing-mental-health-difficulties

Disclaimer

The information contained in this note is intended for your general guidance only, it is not a substitute for obtaining your own medical and legal advice. While all due care has been taken in compiling this information, accuracy cannot be guaranteed, and the applicable law and procedures may occasionally change. For these reasons neither His Majesty’s Government nor any member of the British Consular staff can accept liability for any costs, damages or expenses which might be incurred.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office holds and uses data for purposes notified to the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 (which may be viewed at www.ico.org.uk). Such personal data may be disclosed to other UK Government Departments and public authorities.

FCDO consular support: what we can and can’t do

Whenever possible we will seek your permission before taking any action on your behalf.

If you are having mental health issues in Austria we can:

  • listen to you and help you look at your options

  • help you contact friends and family

  • visit you in hospital or prison

  • raise any concerns about your treatment or welfare – for example, with hospital or prison authorities

  • help doctors in Austria contact UK doctors who know your medical history

  • give you information about local pharmacies

  • offer help, if you choose to remain overseas

  • contact your travel representative or travel insurance company

We cannot:

  • give you advice on mental health issues

  • buy or supply medication

  • withhold or remove your passport

  • stop you from travelling abroad

  • require you to return to the UK

  • pay for you to return to the UK

  • pay for your food, accommodation or medical bills

  • get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people

What to do if you need help

Emergencies

Depending on the situation, you can:

  • call the emergency services – 112. You will be asked which service you need. You will need to ask for a doctor (Arzt) or ambulance (Rettungsdienst)
  • call the ambulance service – 144
  • call the emergency doctor (Ärztenotdienst) – 141
  • call the crisis hotline – 142
  • call the police emergency number in case of self- or external danger – 133
  • go to the nearest hospital emergency ward (Notaufnahme)
  • you may find the page on health and emergencies in Austria useful

Not all emergency services and doctors speak English. If possible, you should ask someone who can speak German to accompany you or help you with your call.

If you can provide any medical background, including any previous diagnoses, or known mental health issues, and details of any previous or current medication you are taking, this will help doctors to make an assessment and consider possible treatment.

After hospital doctors assess you, they may refer you on for further care. You can access urgent public health care in Austria with your EHIC or GHIC or relevant travel insurance.

Help from the British embassy or consulate

If you need support for mental health issues in Austria but are not sure how to access it, you can contact the British embassy or consulate.

Find out what help they can give you in a medical emergency abroad.

Living in Austria: less urgent care

See our guide on healthcare for UK nationals living in Austria and read our living in Austria guide and our travel advice for Austria. We also provide a list of medical providers in Austria.

If you are registered with an Austrian General Practitioner (GP) (Hausarzt), you can make an appointment to see them. They can make a first assessment, provide some support and signpost you elsewhere if necessary or assist you in going to hospital.

If you are not yet registered with an Austrian GP you can find listings through the Austrian Chamber of Physicians where you can access your local Chamber of Physicians (Ärztekammer) by choosing the province you are in. You can visit the section for ‘Patients’ (Patient*innen) and search for a doctor (Arztzsuche) with the medical expertise you need. You can also visit praxisplan.at and search by location.

There is a diverse and extensive psychiatric care system in Austria with psychiatric clinics and outpatient departments nationwide that can help you. These centres are often linked to a hospital and are specifically for people with mental health needs. The centres have teams of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and other health workers, and there are dedicated centres for adults and for children.

In smaller towns, you should approach the local hospital and they will make a referral if necessary. You can also check the location of your nearest Social Psychiatric Services (Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst - SPD).

You can find an overview of psychosocial services in each of the 9 provinces in Austria.

Always keep all medical records. If you have brought documents from home, keep them safe.

Make sure you also keep all health-related documents you receive in Austria. These contain important information for doctors considering the continuation of your treatment.

Paying for treatment or hospitalisation

The healthcare system in Austria provides emergency care for everyone, including non-residents. You can access this by calling 112 or going to the emergency department of your nearest state hospital.

You will need to show an EHIC or GHIC or have local or private health insurance

Tourists or short-term visitors

If you’re visiting Austria for a short time and normally live in the UK with healthcare provided by the NHS, you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

This covers medically necessary treatment you may need during your visit if you’re ill or have an accident, as well as treatment for long-term (chronic) conditions and existing illnesses.

You will need to show a valid EHIC or GHIC when you arrive at the hospital. If you don’t have one, you can still receive emergency care but you or a family member will need to obtain a copy of your EHIC or GHIC card whilst you are in hospital to avoid a bill.

Find out how to get healthcare cover abroad with a UK-issued GHIC or EHIC on the NHS website. You can also phone the Overseas Healthcare Services on +44 191 218 1999 to order a temporary Provisional Replacement Certificate. 

If you cannot provide EHIC or GHIC coverage, you could be presented with a bill.

Remember that your EHIC or GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance, and you should always travel with both. It is always recommended that you have comprehensive travel insurance for your trip that includes the necessary healthcare cover to ensure you can get any treatment you might need.

The EHIC or GHIC will not cover costs such as medical repatriation back to the UK or private treatment in Austria.

Residents of Austria

Health insurance is compulsory in Austria. As a resident in Austria, you must register with a health insurer (Krankenkasse) to access healthcare. This is usually done through your employer. Ask your employer’s HR department for more information.

You can choose your health insurer and in some cases you can choose private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung) instead of the standard statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung).

For more information, read our guidance on accessing healthcare in Austria. You can find further information on the Austrian government’s health insurance information website.

Prescriptions

You should contact a local psychiatrist (Psychiater) to ask for a prescription for a mental health issue. Carrying a copy of your UK prescription can help doctors to find the same or similar medication.

Pharmacies are open during the daytime, but every city and region will have one or more pharmacies that are open around the clock to deal with emergencies. Pharmacies will usually have a notice on the door to signpost to the nearest emergency pharmacy. You can also check the location of the nearest emergency pharmacy.

You may have to pay something towards the cost of your prescription. If you have an EHIC or GHIC, the amount should be the same as an Austrian citizen would pay.

The Social Psychiatric Emergency Service (+43 1 31330) can be reached by phone 24/7 (even on weekends and public holidays) in case of acute psychological emergencies. They may be able to help you to access your medication.

Involuntary hospitalisation

If you have mental health needs and are hospitalised without your consent, the hospital might contact the British Consulate.

For more information on the assistance the British Consulate can offer, you can visit:

An involuntary hospitalisation is deemed necessary when a person presents a risk to themselves or others and refuses treatment or assessment. In Austria, the Confinement Act (Unterbringungsgesetz) regulates the confinement of person who, because of their mental condition or behaviour, pose a danger to themselves or others. This is comparable to the UK’s “sectioning” procedure, however there are also significant differences in procedure and law.

Involuntary admission to a mental health facility is governed by state mental health laws. However, there are generally 3 conditions that patients must fulfil in order for them to be admitted into a clinic against their will:

  • they have to be mentally ill
  • they have to be acutely dangerous to themselves or to others
  • there must be no alternative solution other than them being treated against their will (Zwangsbehandelt)

In cases like this, 2 to 3 specialists would determine whether a patient fulfils all 3 criteria. In general, either a police doctor or a doctor in the public medical service must rule that an acute psychiatric admission is necessary. A medical doctor must then testify that a mental disorder is the cause, and within 4 days of the admission a judge must confirm the lawfulness of the psychiatric admission, based on these professional opinions.

Once admitted to hospital, the patient is assigned a psychiatrist who will make decisions about assessment, treatment, discharge plan and ongoing care after discharge. If you are not resident in Austria, you will not be eligible for outpatient or ongoing care. You will be discharged with a recommendation that you return to your country of residency for ongoing care. You will usually be given enough medication for a few days to cover your journey home.

Patients who have been admitted without their consent or on an involuntary basis, have the right to request a patient lawyer (Patientenanwalt).

If you have been hospitalised without your consent, you can seek legal advice from our list of English-speaking lawyers in Austria.

Guardianship

A legal guardian (Erwachsenenvertretung) is a person who has been court-appointed to care for and help another person and make decisions on their behalf. Essentially, a legal guardian assumes legal responsibility for another person. The court order specifies which areas of life the legal guardian is responsible for. This could include representation before the authorities or decisions regarding finance, healthcare or residence.

If you feel it would be helpful to have a legal guardian appointed, an application can be made with the local court (Bezirksgericht) to have an assessment done. It may be helpful to consult with a lawyer specialising in legal guardianship (Betreuungsrecht) for advice and support with this kind of application and for dealing with the court.

You can find Information in English on Austrian Guardianship Law on the Austrian Federal Government’s website. Be aware that the information provided on the website does not substitute legal advice.

You can also find further information in English from the non-profit association ‘VertretungsNetz’.

Returning to the UK

Your travel insurance company may cover repatriation costs if you have a valid policy. Neither the Austrian nor British authorities can fund repatriation, but hospitals might be able to help with the arrangements. We can help you contact travel care services at UK airports who may be able to support you on return to the UK.

See medical repatriation companies in the UK for more information on specific medical repatriations.

Read guidance on returning to the UK in medical emergencies or hospitalisation abroad.

Other useful information

UK information

Support from other agencies and organisations

In Austria

If you need support for mental health issues in Austria but are not sure how to access it, you can contact the British Embassy in Austria, located in Vienna.

Support organisations in Austria

You can find an overview of psychosocial services in each of the 9 provinces in Austria. Other support organisation include:

In the UK

These UK organisations may be able to help you before you travel, or help family and friends in the UK. Some can only help people who are in the UK. As independent organisations, the FCDO cannot be held responsible in any way for their advice and/or any decisions and outcomes that result from this.

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