- In immediate danger, call 1669 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
- The Department of Mental Health's 1323 hotline offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day.
- Samaritans of Thailand can be reached on 02 113 6789; the UK government lists option 2 for English.
- Psychiatrists are doctors who can diagnose and prescribe; psychologists and counsellors provide talking therapies.
- Private psychiatric care can be expensive, and an inpatient admission usually needs a deposit or payment guarantee.
If you or someone else is in crisis
If someone's life is in danger, call 1669, Thailand's free medical emergency number, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. 191 reaches the police, and the Tourist Police on 1155 can help if language is a barrier.
For urgent emotional support, Thailand's Department of Mental Health runs the 1323 mental health hotline. The Department describes it as available 24 hours a day, and the international directory Find A Helpline lists it as free and confidential, with an online chat option. Find A Helpline also lists the Social Help Center on 1300, available 24 hours.
For support in English, the UK government's guidance lists Samaritans of Thailand on +66 (0)2 113 6789, pressing 2 for English, as a confidential support line. Calls to helplines abroad, such as UK numbers beginning +44, are charged at international rates.
Psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in mental health. Psychiatrists can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and adjust medication, order tests to rule out physical causes, and arrange hospital admission if needed. In Thailand they are registered with the Medical Council of Thailand, whose public lookup shows a doctor's licence status and any specialty recorded.
A psychologist works with talking therapies and psychological assessment. Depending on their training, a psychologist may offer approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, and may carry out formal psychological testing. Psychologists do not prescribe medication.
Counsellors and therapists offer supportive talking therapy for issues such as stress, relationships, grief or adjustment to life abroad. Training and qualifications vary widely, so ask any psychologist or counsellor where they trained, what professional body they belong to, and whether they are registered in Thailand or abroad.
Many people start with whichever professional is easiest to reach and are referred on. Some hospital departments combine all three. Bumrungrad's Behavioral Health Center, for example, lists psychiatrists and a psychologist, and describes treatment that may involve psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or medication with psychotherapy, as well as counselling without medication. A doctor can help you work out which type of support fits your situation.
Finding English-language support
Language is often the main practical barrier. The UK government notes that government hospitals have limited capacity for foreigners, while private hospitals generally have more English-speaking staff and international patient services. Check the language of the individual clinician, not just the hospital: Bumrungrad's Behavioral Health Center page, for instance, lists Thai and English for its psychologist but does not list languages for each psychiatrist.
Thailand also has specialist mental health hospitals. Manarom Hospital in Bangkok describes itself as a private hospital for mental and behavioural healthcare, offering outpatient, inpatient and day programmes, adult, child and adolescent and elderly psychiatry, and psychological testing, with an English-language website and pre-registration for new patients.
Other routes include university wellbeing services for students and staff — Prachatai cites Chulalongkorn University's student wellness centre as an example — and online sessions with a practitioner in your home country, which can help continuity of care. Ask any online practitioner whether they are permitted to treat someone located in Thailand and what they would do in an emergency.
Costs and payment
We did not find official published fee schedules for psychiatry or psychology consultations at the hospitals we checked, so ask the provider directly before booking. Useful questions: the fee for a first appointment and for follow-ups, the session length, whether medication and tests are billed separately, and whether online sessions cost the same.
The UK government describes private psychiatric care in Thailand as expensive and says it is essential to have a deposit or payment guarantee before a mental health admission. If you have health insurance, check whether it covers outpatient mental health visits, therapy sessions and inpatient care, and whether it needs a referral from a doctor first.
Admission to public mental health institutions, according to the same guidance, usually requires either a direct referral via the Royal Thai Police or a recommendation from a doctor. Compulsory hospitalisation can happen in Thailand.
Medication and travel
If you take psychiatric medication, check its legal status before you travel. The UK government warns that Thai drug laws are very strict and that permits are needed to bring in medicines containing psychotropic or narcotic substances. The Australian Embassy suggests checking with the Royal Thai Embassy or the Thai Ministry of Public Health.
Carry a copy of your prescription, keep medicines in their original packaging, and bring enough for your trip. If you will need repeat prescriptions in Thailand, ask a local doctor well before you run out. Do not stop or change medication without talking to a doctor.
Questions to ask a new practitioner
- Are you a psychiatrist, psychologist or counsellor, and where did you train?
- Are you registered in Thailand, and with which body?
- Which languages do you work in, and do you offer online sessions?
- What does a first appointment cost, and how long is it?
- What should I do if I need urgent help between sessions?
- Can you provide receipts and reports for my insurer?
Frequently asked questions
What is the mental health hotline in Thailand?
1323 is the Department of Mental Health hotline, available 24 hours a day and listed by Find A Helpline as free and confidential. In immediate danger, call 1669 or go to an emergency department.
Is there an English-language helpline?
The UK government lists Samaritans of Thailand on +66 (0)2 113 6789, pressing 2 for English.
Should I see a psychiatrist or a psychologist?
Psychiatrists are doctors who can diagnose and prescribe; psychologists and counsellors provide talking therapies. Many people use both. A doctor can advise on what fits your situation.
How can I check a psychiatrist's credentials?
Psychiatrists are doctors, so their registration can be checked on the Medical Council of Thailand's public lookup, which shows licence status and any specialty recorded.
Does travel insurance cover mental health care in Thailand?
It varies by policy. Check whether outpatient therapy, psychiatric consultations and inpatient care are covered, and whether a doctor's referral is required, before you need care.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Healthcare and medical services in Thailand
- Find A Helpline — Thailand
- Hfocus — Department of Mental Health statement citing the 1323 hotline (1 September 2026)
- Bumrungrad International Hospital — Behavioral Health Center
- Manarom Hospital — About
- Prachatai English — Mental health services in Thailand
- Thai PBS — Medical Council advises checking a doctor's registration (check_md lookup)
- Australian Embassy Thailand — Medical information
