I was in the United Kingdom during Christmas my stay was longer then expected as I caught covid which was horrible.
While I was in the UK I used my British citizenship to use the NHS for mental health support as I really need it.
Unfortunately I found it to be useless I have great respect for the countless nurses who saved so many people during the wave of covid 19 however when it comes to mental health it’s not great.
I want to see what the options are here in Switzerland as I need to get some serious help as soon as possible I can’t even walk to work without crying.
Does anyone know how I can enquiry about these things would my health insurance be able to help? Would Medgate be able to help?
I have no clue where to start looking I’ve done a few Google searches but couldn’t find nothing concrete.
Thank you so much for reading my post I wish you all a lovely evening stay safe
What are your expectations? Treatment for mental health issues can take a long period before you see any impact.
Start with your GP. But due to the current situation, be aware that it may take some time to get an appointment as a lot of people are finding themselves in the same situation as yourself. For instance I know three teenagers and two adults on my road that are having or seeking treatment at present.
Your GP, or yes somewhere like Medgate or Medix Toujours if they're covered by your insurance or in the case of an emergency. You may need to shop around a bit until you find someone that you feel comfortable with.
There's a walk-in centre near the Denner near the top of Spalenberg.
Depending on your German levels you can also look on Aepsy - a Swiss curator of mental health professionals in Switzerland though mostly DE part for now. You can also read the profile and listen to the voice of each therapist and book directly online. Not sure of the wait time but have heard a minimum of a month to find someone if going via Health Insurance given all the hurdles et al.
It is tough to find someone who can speak English and who has availability but having been on the same position I would recommend: persist, persist and persist.
You might be aware already that in Switzerland, many psychiatrists also practice psychotherapy! This is by far the most economical way for you to get support via a combination of meds, if appropriate, and therapy. Very often, if you see someone who is only a therapist, you’ll have to pay for it fully yourself - very expensive.
Start by asking for a referral from your Hausarzt and explain that you need someone who speaks English. What is useful is if you can already come with a list from the Krankenkasse of psychiatrists/psychotherapists who speak English, and if you’ve been through people on the list already (looked at their profiles etc) but if you have a nice doctor they will do some homework for you too. I was very lucky because I have a wonderful Hausärztin. Between us, we made several phone calls and wrote many emails. Availability is a big issue. But even if someone isn’t available, or can’t speak English that well, they will often suggest someone else, and one referral leads to another, so ...finally I found someone.
Another point to bear in mind is that these days many therapists are open to talking to clients over Zoom. Not sure how that will work with insurance but it may broaden your field of search.
I’m so sorry you are going through this. People are quick to recognise the challenges that come with physical illness, but when we have mental health