Mental Health Support Online

What do you need help with?

Choose what fits best. Each page covers what it feels like, the usual causes, what helps, what a doctor can do online, and the signs that need urgent care.

• Feeling anxious, tense or on edgeAnxious feelings and anxiety symptoms→
• Sudden waves of panicPanic attacks→
• Low mood, or no interest in anythingDepression→
• Stressed, overwhelmed or burnt outStress→
• Trouble falling or staying asleepInsomnia→
• Always tired, with no energyLethargy→
• Mood swings, or highs and lowsMood swings→
• Fear of being judged in social situationsSocial anxiety→
• Constant worry about being illHealth anxiety→
• Intrusive thoughts and ritualsObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)→
• Flashbacks or nightmares after a traumaPTSD→
• Trouble focusing, restless, disorganisedADHD in adults→
• Low mood or anger before your periodPMDD→
• Drinking or drug use you want to changeSubstance abuse→
• Thoughts of ending your life, or of hurting yourselfGet help now: call 112↓

Hearing voices or holding beliefs that others do not share can be psychosis, and very high moods with little need for sleep can be bipolar disorder. Overwhelming fear of one thing is a phobia, and fear of crowds or of leaving home is agoraphobia. Grief after a loss, anger that is hard to control and low mood every winter have their own pages, as do worries about food and your body (eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder), feeling unreal or detached (depersonalisation and derealisation), waking unable to move (sleep paralysis), tiredness that rest does not fix (fatigue) and changes in memory or thinking (confusion). Self-harm and suicidal thoughts are covered with where to get help now, and worry that will not switch off is generalised anxiety.

Mental health conditions at a glance

The table lists every mental health condition on Mobi Doctor: what each usually feels like and how much of its care works online. 20 of the 30 are usually treated or managed online. ADHD, bipolar disorder, psychosis, eating disorders, substance abuse, confusion, self-harm and suicidal thoughts are assessed online, because the diagnosis, specialist treatment or crisis care happens in person.

What each online-care label means is explained under online care for mental health.

What should you do in a mental health crisis?

If you might act on thoughts of ending your life, have seriously harmed yourself or taken an overdose, or cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 112 or go to an emergency department now. You do not have to wait for an appointment, and you can ask someone to call for you.

If you are worried about someone else, stay with them, listen, and call 112 if they are in danger. Asking someone directly whether they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head: evidence shows that it can protect them. Free, confidential crisis helplines for each country are listed at findahelpline.com, and the suicidal thoughts and self-harm pages explain what to do next.

What is mental health?

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that lets you cope with the stresses of life, realise your abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to your community, in the words of the World Health Organization. It is shaped by your own skills and genes, and by poverty, violence, inequality, work and the people around you.

How common are mental health problems?

Very common. Nearly 1 in 7 people worldwide, about 1.2 billion, lived with a mental disorder in 2023. In the EU, 1 in 6 people had a mental health problem before the COVID-19 pandemic, and in a 2023 Eurobarometer survey, 46% of Europeans said they had had an emotional or psychosocial problem in the past 12 months. Yet 1 in 2 people with a mental health problem did not seek help from a professional, and worldwide only about a third of people with depression receive formal mental health care.

Is anxiety a mental illness?

Feeling anxious at times is normal. Anxiety becomes a mental health condition, an anxiety disorder, when it is hard to control, lasts and affects your daily life. Anxiety disorders are the world’s most common mental disorders, more women than men are affected, and they are treatable. See anxious feelings.

Is ADHD a mental illness?

ADHD is a condition that affects how you focus, with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive decisions that start in childhood, usually before the age of 12. Many people with ADHD describe themselves as neurodivergent. It is diagnosed by a specialist, and anxiety often comes with it. See ADHD in adults.

Is autism a mental illness?

No. Autism is a difference in how your brain develops that affects how you see and experience the world. It is not an illness, and there is no treatment or cure for autism itself, but autistic people are more likely to have anxiety and other mental health problems, and those can be treated.

How do I know if I need help for my mental health?

See a doctor if low mood, worry, stress or poor sleep has lasted a few weeks, is getting worse, or is affecting your work, relationships or daily life. You do not need to wait until things are bad, and you do not need to know what is wrong.

• Low mood or loss of interest most of the day, nearly every day, for 2 weeks or more.
• Worry or anxiety most days that you find hard to control.
• Trouble sleeping for months, or sleep problems that make it hard to cope.
• Panic attacks that keep coming back, or fear that stops you doing things.
• Using alcohol, drugs or gambling to cope with how you feel.
• Changes that the people close to you have noticed.
• Thoughts of harming yourself: get help now, not later.

Before the consultation, note when it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your days. Saying ‘I have not been feeling myself and I want help’ is enough to start.

Can a quiz tell you which mental illness you have?

No. Online quizzes and screening questionnaires can suggest that it is worth talking to a doctor, but they cannot diagnose a mental health condition. A diagnosis comes from a conversation with a doctor, who asks how long the symptoms have lasted, how they affect your life, and what else could explain them, such as a thyroid problem, a medicine or alcohol.

• Anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress and PMDD: a doctor, including by video.
• ADHD: an ADHD specialist, such as a psychiatrist, after a detailed assessment.
• Bipolar disorder and psychosis: a psychiatrist or a specialist mental health team.
• Eating disorders: specialist eating disorder services, after a first assessment by a doctor.
• Autism: a specialist assessment team.

Do not diagnose yourself: if you are worried, speak to a doctor. Physical problems, such as an overactive or underactive thyroid, anaemia or a heart rhythm problem, can cause symptoms that look like anxiety or low mood, and they are checked first.

How are mental health problems treated?

Most mental health problems are treated with talking therapy, self-help and, for some conditions, medicine, often together. Psychological treatments are the first treatment for depression and anxiety, and antidepressants can be added when depression is moderate or severe.

What to expect from antidepressants

Antidepressants usually take 1 to 2 weeks to start having an effect and up to 8 weeks to work fully. If they help, you usually take them for at least 6 months after you feel better. Never stop suddenly: the doctor plans a gradual reduction, because withdrawal symptoms are common.

Medicines that are never prescribed online

Benzodiazepines, Z-drug sleeping tablets, stimulants for ADHD and gabapentinoids, such as pregabalin and gabapentin, are controlled medicines and are never prescribed online. Benzodiazepines are generally not recommended for anxiety disorders because of the risk of dependence, and doctors now rarely prescribe sleeping pills for insomnia.

How can I improve my mental health?

Five steps improve mental wellbeing: connect with other people, be physically active, learn new skills, give to others, and pay attention to the present moment. Sleep, alcohol and caffeine matter too.

• Connect with other people Time with family and friends, such as a day out with someone you have not seen for a while.
• Be physically active Walking, running, swimming, yoga or any activity you enjoy, regularly.
• Learn new skills Cooking something new, a course, or a project of your own.
• Give to others Small acts of kindness, such as thanking someone for what they have done for you.
• Pay attention to the present moment Mindfulness: noticing your thoughts, your feelings and the world around you.

Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep, so keep regular bed and wake times. Cut down on caffeine and alcohol, and do not use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to cope. When you feel anxious, slow breathing, in through your nose and out through your mouth for at least 5 minutes, calms the body.

Mental health in Europe: seasons, travel and getting help

Across the EU, 112 is the emergency number for a mental health crisis, and free crisis helplines for each country are listed at findahelpline.com. Dark winters, journeys across time zones and travelling with controlled medicines can all affect your mental health.

If you take a mental health medicine, carry enough for the whole trip in its original packaging with a list of what you take, and never stop it suddenly while you are away.

How can I help someone with a mental health problem?

Listen without judging, ask how they would like to be supported, and encourage them to see a doctor. Let them stay in control of their decisions, but get them medical help if they need it, and call 112 if they are in danger.

• Try to understand what they are feeling, rather than focusing on what they do.
• Let them know you are there for them, and remind them of their good qualities.
• If you are worried about suicide, ask directly: it can protect them.
• Do not force them to change, threaten to take away their control, or call them attention-seeking.
• If someone may have psychosis and does not believe they are unwell, you can seek help on their behalf.
• Look after yourself too, and get support of your own.

A doctor can also talk with you about how to help someone you are worried about, and how to get them seen.

When should I see a doctor about my mental health?

Book a consultation if:

• low mood, worry or stress has lasted 2 weeks or more, or is getting worse
• anxiety, panic or fear is stopping you doing things
• you have had trouble sleeping for months
• you are tired all the time and do not know why
• your mood changes in a pattern, such as before each period or every winter
• you are using alcohol or drugs to cope
• you want a referral for talking therapy, or advice about an antidepressant
• you are worried about someone else

Can an online doctor help with mental health?

What the doctor can do online

The doctor listens, looks at any photos you share and decides with you what helps. If a medicine is the right answer, the doctor prescribes it. If you need an examination, a test or urgent care, the doctor tells you where to go.

• Safety checked first Thoughts of suicide or self-harm and physical warning signs are asked about calmly and plainly, and you are sent to the right care if needed.
• Physical causes ruled out Thyroid problems, anaemia, medicines, alcohol and heart problems can cause symptoms that look like anxiety or low mood.
• Treatment that suits you Self-help, a referral for talking therapy and, when it is right for you, an antidepressant, with follow-up.
• The right specialist for the rest A referral for ADHD, bipolar disorder, psychosis or an eating disorder, with your history set out.

What still needs in-person care

• a specialist assessment and diagnosis for ADHD, bipolar disorder, psychosis and autism
• starting and monitoring specialist medicines, such as mood stabilisers, antipsychotics and ADHD medicines
• face-to-face or trauma-focused therapy, and eating disorder and addiction services
• blood tests, such as for anaemia or thyroid problems
• any crisis or emergency

What the online-care labels mean

Mental health tools

Free tools on Mobi Doctor:

• Symptom Navigator→Pick a body area, including mind, mood and sleep, or type a symptom to find the right page
• Medication checker→Which medicines you can take abroad, and what to carry with them
• Medicine Shortage Tracker→Live shortage reports for medicines across Europe, from official registers

All mental health conditions

Each page covers what the condition feels like, its causes and treatment, what a doctor can do online, and the signs that need in-person care.

How Mobi Doctor works

1. Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
2. Speak to a licensed doctor about how you feel: say what has been happening, how long it has lasted and how it affects your days, and mention any medicines you take.
3. Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.

Frequently asked questions about mental health

Related conditions

Depression in pregnancy and after birth Menopause Heart palpitations Tension headache Jet lag All conditions

From the Mobi Doctor blog