Mental Health Support in Malta: Urgent Help and Ongoing Care

If someone is in immediate danger, has attempted suicide, cannot remain safe or may seriously harm another person, call 112 or go to the emergency department. Malta's 1579 Mental Health Helpline operates 24 hours a day for immediate emotional support and guidance; it is not a replacement for emergency services.

Routes for non-emergency support

1. Contact your public health centre or GP and explain symptoms, duration, sleep, medication and safety concerns.
2. The clinician can treat, refer to community mental-health services/psychiatry or direct urgent assessment.
3. If public waiting time does not meet your needs, a private warranted psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist can usually be contacted directly.
4. Check insurance before booking: therapy and psychiatry often have visit limits or exclusions.

For continuing medication, bring a prescriber letter, diagnosis, generic names/doses and sufficient lawful supply for the transition. Do not stop psychiatric medicine abruptly. A Malta clinician may need to review and reissue the prescription.

Choosing a private professional

Ask about professional warrant/registration, experience with the issue, language, session fee, cancellation policy, confidentiality, reports to an employer/insurer, emergency cover between sessions and whether online sessions can continue if you travel.

For a child or teenager, start with the family doctor/paediatrician or school support team and ask specifically for the age-appropriate referral route. Parental consent and confidentiality rules differ by age and risk.

Save 112, 1579, your GP and a trusted contact in the phone. New residents should make this plan before a crisis, particularly when changing medication or arriving without an established clinician.

For the wider public and private care routes, read Healthcare System in Malta.

Last reviewed: 9 August 2026. Helplines and services can change; use 112 for immediate danger.