Turkey – Mental Health

How is mental health perceived and discussed in Turkey?

Over recent years, rates of anxiety and depression in Turkey have risen sharply, driven by a combination of factors including seismic disasters, economic hardship, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Figures from Turkey’s Ministry of Health indicate that 17 percent of the population are affected by mental health conditions, and antidepressant use climbed by 56 percent across a five-year period. These trends point to a growing recognition that mental health matters — even as the social space for openly discussing it continues to be shaped by longstanding cultural norms.

Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey draws on a rich mixture of European, Asian, and Middle Eastern cultural traditions. The country is also navigating a broader societal shift from rural, traditional ways of life to contemporary urban existence, and this transition has produced a wide range of attitudes that vary considerably from one community to another. Consequently, how mental illness is perceived — and how much stigma surrounds it — can differ markedly between cities and the countryside, and between younger and older generations.

The central importance of family in Turkish society means that people frequently attempt to work through psychological difficulties within the household rather than turning to professional services. While family support can be deeply valuable, it can also act as a barrier to seeking specialist help. Religious frameworks are another significant source of coping for many people in Turkey: some turn to faith-based healers or religious figures to address psychological distress, which can lead to the rejection or delay of evidence-based clinical care.

The stigma attached to mental illness continues to shape whether and when people seek professional support. In contrast to a number of Northern and Western European countries where mental health awareness campaigns have become mainstream, formal anti-stigma initiatives in Turkey have been limited in their reach — particularly beyond major urban areas. The Turkish Ministry of Health published a National Mental Health Policy in 2006 that explicitly acknowledged the need to tackle stigmatisation, yet subsequent action plans have delivered only partial results and a comprehensive legislative framework remains elusive.

Turkey’s Ministry of Health Strategic Plan for 2024–2028 sets out clear objectives around raising public awareness of mental health and reducing associated risks at a population level, indicating a meaningful policy-level commitment to treating mental wellbeing as a public health concern. For expats, appreciating this broader context helps calibrate expectations: professional care is accessible, but the cultural environment differs from settings shaped by decades of organised public campaigns.

What mental health services are available through the public health system in Turkey?

Turkey operates a dual healthcare structure encompassing both public and private provision. Turkish nationals benefit from Universal Health Insurance, with close to 99% of the population covered by public health insurance, which picks up more than 70% of healthcare expenses. The central mechanism for this coverage is the Social Security Institution — known by its Turkish acronym SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu). Enrolment in SGK is compulsory for citizens; the system is financed through taxation, with employers making contributions on behalf of employees and the self-employed contributing directly.

In-patient psychiatric care is generally available across hospitals throughout Turkey, and primary health clinics alongside public hospitals provide psychological and psychiatric services within a patient’s province of residence. That said, Turkey’s public mental health system is structured rather differently from models such as England’s NHS, which channels patients into coordinated talking-therapy pathways via GP referral. In Turkey, public provision skews heavily towards crisis intervention and psychiatric care rather than routine counselling or psychotherapy. The system also faces serious structural challenges: a proposed Mental Health Law has been stalled in the legislative process since 2019, and shortfalls in both professional staffing and financial investment are well established.

The practical consequence is that mental health expertise is densely concentrated in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir, while some parts of the country have no mental health specialists at all. This geographic disparity is a critical consideration for anyone considering settling outside these three main cities.

What can expats access through the public system? Expats who have been resident in Turkey for more than one year are eligible to enrol in the SGK public insurance scheme, paying a monthly contribution of around ₺800 (approximately $30 USD, depending on the package selected). Those who have been in the country for under a year are required by law to hold private healthcare insurance. As of 2025, these are the standard access thresholds — always consult the SGK official website and the Turkish Ministry of Health website for the most up-to-date figures and eligibility criteria, as these are subject to revision.

Private insurance policies may extend to treatments not covered under SGK, including mental health services — so scrutinise what any given plan actually includes before signing up. The Ministry of Health’s Health Implementation Directive (SUT) defines which services fall within the public system’s scope; anything outside this framework may involve direct out-of-pocket payments.

Are counselling and therapy services available in other languages in Turkey?

Locating a therapist who practises in a language other than Turkish is entirely feasible in Turkey, though the options are significantly more plentiful in the largest cities. Istanbul in particular has developed a substantial community of internationally trained and multilingual practitioners serving expats, foreign students, and business travellers.

Face to Face Terapi, a counselling practice based in Istanbul, has a dedicated team of therapists offering sessions in English alongside Turkish-language practitioners, covering a broad spectrum of therapeutic modalities. Full details are available at facetofaceterapi.com.

Mona Counseling Center (Mona Psikoloji), also in Istanbul, provides therapy to international clients through clinical psychologists who completed their training abroad and are able to conduct sessions in English. You can reach them via monapsikoloji.com.

It’s Complicated is an international therapist directory enabling users to search for multilingual practitioners in Istanbul and filter results by language. It operates across nearly 100 languages and offers both online and face-to-face appointments through a network of more than 2,500 mental health professionals in over 50 countries, Turkey included. Browse Istanbul listings at complicated.life.

The Existential Academy of Istanbul (Varoluşçu Akademi) offers reduced-rate existential psychotherapy in English and Arabic on a limited basis — a worthwhile option for those managing on a tighter budget. Further information is available at varoluscuakademi.com.

The directory TherapyRoute.com lists independent practitioners across Turkey, including those who offer English-language sessions in person or remotely. For expats living outside major cities or preferring a remote setup, online therapy platforms such as BetterHelp and Talkspace provide access to licensed therapists irrespective of physical location — making them particularly useful for those settled in smaller towns.

Expats in rural parts of the country may find it genuinely difficult to locate practitioners working in languages other than Turkish, which makes online therapy platforms especially valuable in those circumstances. Always take time to verify a therapist’s qualifications and registration with a recognised professional body before committing to a course of treatment.

What do private mental health services cost in Turkey?

Private mental healthcare in Turkey is broadly more affordable than comparable services across Western Europe or North America, though fees differ substantially depending on the location, the practitioner’s specialism, and their educational background. Istanbul tends to carry the steepest price tags, reflecting its concentration of internationally trained therapists and upscale clinic environments.

As of 2024–2025, private therapy sessions in Istanbul with a psychologist or psychotherapist broadly range from around ₺1,500 to ₺4,000 or more per session (roughly $45–$120 USD at mid-2024 exchange rates), with internationally trained or English-speaking specialists typically sitting at the upper end of that range. However, the Turkish lira has experienced pronounced currency volatility, which means these USD equivalents can shift considerably in practice. Always confirm pricing directly with the provider you are considering, as rates change often. Medical platforms that publish pricing data — such as Bookimed — base their figures on patient enquiries and official clinic quotes, using median values drawn from real invoices from 2024–2025, though individual costs will vary.

More affordable routes do exist: the Existential Academy of Istanbul offers English-language psychotherapy at reduced rates, certain clinics operate sliding-scale fee structures, and university psychology departments sometimes provide low-cost supervised counselling sessions open to the public.

On the insurance side, many expats opt for international health insurance plans that provide coverage both in Turkey and abroad, typically granting access to private hospitals with shorter waiting times and specialist staff. Private policies may cover mental health services excluded from the SGK public system, but what is actually included varies enormously from one plan to another. When evaluating any policy, look carefully for mental health parity provisions — these ensure that psychological and psychiatric care is covered at the same level as physical health treatment. Confirm whether the plan caps the number of funded sessions per year, whether pre-existing mental health conditions are excluded, and whether online therapy appointments qualify for reimbursement. Read the policy wording thoroughly before you travel.

Are there crisis support lines or emergency mental health services in Turkey?

If you or someone close to you is in immediate danger, the emergency number to call in Turkey is 112, which dispatches ambulance and emergency medical teams. Paramedics are able to arrange psychiatric assessment at hospital for anyone experiencing an acute mental health crisis. In-patient psychiatric care is generally accessible at medical facilities across the country.

For non-urgent emotional distress and crisis counselling, Turkey operates the ALO 182 psychological support line, administered by the Ministry of Health. This free telephone service offers psychological support and can direct callers towards specialist services. It functions primarily in Turkish; non-Turkish speakers may need to enlist a Turkish-speaking contact or interpreter when placing a call. The line is available nationwide — simply dial 182 from any phone within Turkey.

WHO-supported psychosocial helplines in Turkey have handled tens of thousands of calls, developed in cooperation with the WHO Country Office and the Ministry of Health. These investments have meaningfully strengthened the country’s crisis-response infrastructure, though most dedicated helpline services continue to operate predominantly in Turkish.

For expats requiring crisis support in other languages, the following international resources can be accessed remotely:

• International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) — maintains a global directory of crisis centres at iasp.info
• Befrienders Worldwide — lists emotional support lines by country at befrienders.org
• Crisis Text Line — available in selected countries; check whether your country is covered at crisistextline.org

Your home country’s embassy or consulate in Turkey may also hold a curated list of recommended mental health practitioners and crisis resources for their nationals. The UK Government’s Turkey mental health support page is one such example. Contact your own country’s diplomatic mission for equivalent guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.

Are there expat community groups or peer support networks for mental health in Turkey?

Peer connection and community belonging can be an important complement to professional care, especially during the upheaval of settling into a new country. Turkey — Istanbul in particular — has a lively and well-established expat scene with numerous active networks offering informal emotional support alongside social engagement.

Online expat communities are among the most readily accessible entry points:

• InterNations Turkey — one of the world’s largest platforms for international residents, with thriving groups in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. Events listings and discussion forums can be found at internations.org/turkey-expats.
• Facebook groups such as “Expats in Istanbul,” “Foreigners in Turkey,” and city-specific communities for Ankara and İzmir are busy spaces where members exchange therapist recommendations, service referrals, and day-to-day practical guidance.
• Reddit communities including r/turkey and r/expats frequently host conversations about mental health, navigating healthcare, and the realities of expat life.

Dedicated mental health peer support: Organisations such as Mind (headquartered in the UK) and Mental Health Europe offer online resources and community forums accessible from anywhere in the world. While neither is specific to Turkey, both provide structured peer support that can be drawn upon from any location.

In the major cities, international faith communities and places of worship — including English-language churches and international mosques — often offer pastoral counselling and community support networks that some expats find invaluable, particularly during difficult periods of adjustment. Connecting with these communities can be a meaningful first step while formal professional support is still being identified.

Turkey’s community health centres and over 100 hospitals provide some healthcare services in multiple languages, and significant numbers of health workers — particularly in cities with large migrant populations — mean that informal multilingual support infrastructure does exist in some contexts, even if it is far from universally available.

What should expats know about accessing mental health care before moving to Turkey?

Advance preparation is the single most effective step you can take to safeguard your mental wellbeing as a new arrival in Turkey. The healthcare system functions differently from many others, access during the first year relies almost entirely on private channels, and language barriers can introduce unwelcome friction at the moments when support is most urgent. The steps below set out what to do both before and after you arrive.

1. Arrange health insurance before you leave. Expats who have been in Turkey for under a year are legally required to hold private healthcare insurance. Ensure your policy expressly includes mental health provision — scrutinise session limits, exclusions for pre-existing conditions, and whether remote therapy appointments are reimbursable.
2. Compile your medical records and therapy history. If you are currently working with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist, request a written summary or discharge letter before departing. Include details of any diagnoses, current medications listed by their generic rather than brand names, and any ongoing treatment plans. This documentation will prove invaluable when registering with a new provider in Turkey.
3. Identify potential therapists before you arrive. Since mental health professionals are predominantly concentrated in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir, those relocating to other parts of the country should research online therapy options in advance. Directories such as TherapyRoute, It’s Complicated, and Psychology Today’s international listings are good starting points.
4. Register with local primary care early on. Upon arrival, sign up with a family health centre (Aile Sağlığı Merkezi) — the Turkish equivalent of a GP surgery — which serves as your initial point of contact for referrals to specialist mental health services. This registration is free and does not require SGK enrolment.
5. Be aware of the SGK residency requirement. Once you have lived in Turkey for more than a year, you can join the public SGK scheme by paying a monthly contribution of around ₺800. Until that point, private insurance remains your principal route to care. Confirm current thresholds and premiums via the SGK official website before relocating.
6. Prepare for language differences — or arrange a trusted interpreter — before you engage with public health services, which are delivered almost entirely in Turkish. Many private clinics in Istanbul are equipped to offer English-language sessions, but this is considerably less common in smaller cities and towns.
7. Consult the Ministry of Health website for the latest guidance. Eligibility criteria for health insurance, SGK access rules, and mental health service arrangements are all subject to change. The Turkish Ministry of Health website is the authoritative source for current policy. Your country’s embassy in Ankara may also publish updated health advisories relevant to your situation.

Given the residency waiting period and other practical complexities, many expats treat international health insurance not as a fallback but as the primary vehicle for accessing care — especially during the first year. Private mental healthcare in Turkey should be understood as the default route for most newly arrived expatriates, rather than an alternative of last resort.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see a therapist in Turkey without speaking Turkish?

Yes, particularly in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir, where multilingual practitioners are available. Directories such as It’s Complicated allow you to search for therapists by language, offering appointments across nearly 100 languages in both online and in-person formats. If you are based in a smaller city or rural setting, online therapy platforms offer a practical alternative that eliminates the language barrier altogether.

Does health insurance cover therapy in Turkey?

Private insurance policies may include mental health services not covered by the public SGK system, but coverage differs substantially between providers and plans. Always confirm in advance that your policy extends to psychological or psychiatric appointments, review any annual session limits, and check that pre-existing mental health conditions are not excluded before you relocate.

How long do I have to wait before I can access public healthcare in Turkey as an expat?

Expats who have been resident in Turkey for more than one year are eligible to join the public SGK insurance scheme. Those who have spent less than a year in the country are required to hold private healthcare insurance. Always verify the current eligibility rules and fee structures on the SGK official website, as thresholds and costs are subject to change.

Is there a mental health crisis line I can call in Turkey?

Yes. The ALO 182 line, operated by Turkey’s Ministry of Health, offers free telephone-based psychological support and can direct callers to specialist services. For medical emergencies, dial 112 for ambulance services. Both operate primarily in Turkish, so non-Turkish speakers in crisis may benefit from having a Turkish-speaking contact available, or from consulting international crisis resources such as those listed at befrienders.org.

Is mental health stigma a significant issue in Turkey?

Stigma surrounding mental illness can deter people from seeking professional help and delay access to appropriate treatment. The importance of family in Turkish culture means that psychological difficulties are often dealt with within the household, which can discourage individuals from consulting a clinician. That said, attitudes vary enormously depending on location, age, and educational background, and awareness of mental health as a legitimate health issue is gradually increasing — particularly in urban centres.

Are psychiatric medications available in Turkey?

Yes, a broad range of psychiatric medications is dispensed from pharmacies across Turkey on prescription. Medicines are not entirely free of charge, and imported medications cannot be reimbursed by the Social Security Institution. As is the case for Turkish citizens generally, a 20% patient contribution applies to total medication costs. If you rely on regular psychiatric medication, bring a sufficient supply to cover the transitional period and obtain the generic (non-brand) name from your current prescriber so you can identify the Turkish equivalent.

Are online therapy services a good option for expats in Turkey?

Online therapy is an excellent choice for many expats — especially those living outside the main cities or requiring sessions in a particular language. Platforms such as BetterHelp, Talkspace, and It’s Complicated all match users with licensed therapists remotely. Some specialist clinics in Turkey also offer telemedicine appointments, giving international patients access to online sessions without needing to attend in person. Confirm with your insurer whether remote therapy sessions qualify for reimbursement under your policy.

What is the overall quality of private mental health care in Turkey?

Turkey has established itself as a recognised medical destination with a sophisticated healthcare sector, and the standard of care in private settings is broadly comparable with that found in many developed countries. Private mental health clinics in major cities are frequently staffed by internationally trained professionals. Certain private hospitals — such as Memorial Şişli in Istanbul — hold Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, demonstrating compliance with internationally recognised quality standards. As in any country, quality is not uniform, so always confirm a provider’s credentials and professional registration before beginning treatment.