Support services in Zurich
In a life-threatening emergency, call 144 for an ambulance or 117 for the police. For a psychiatric emergency, the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich runs a 24-hour adult emergency line. For other urgent medical questions at night or at weekends, the free AERZTEFON line (0800 33 66 55) will direct you to the right service.
If you need to talk, Die Dargebotene Hand answers on 143, with an English-language line every evening from 18:00 to 23:00 on 0800 143 000.
Victims of violence can call the Swiss victim support number 142 at any time. Women who need to leave home can call the Frauenhaus Zürich helpline (044 350 04 04) day or night; staff arrange a neutral meeting point, so you never need the shelter's address. FIZ counsels migrant women in English and several other languages.
Notfall Erwachsene (Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich)
Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich
24-hour psychiatric emergency line for adults aged 18 and over, with separate emergency numbers for children and young people and for adults over 65.
- +41 58 384 20 00
- 24 hours
- Website
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
AERZTEFON
Aerztefon AG
Free medical emergency helpline for non-life-threatening medical and dental emergencies that assesses your situation and refers you to the right service.
- 0800 33 66 55
- 24 hours, 365 days a year
- free
- Website
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Die Dargebotene Hand 143
Die Dargebotene Hand
Personal, anonymous and confidential emotional support by phone, chat and email, with a dedicated English-language phone line in the evenings.
- 143
- Always available; English line 0800 143 000 daily 18:00-23:00
- German, English
- English available
- Website
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
Opferhilfe-Nummer 142
National victim support number for anyone affected by a crime or violence, reachable around the clock, free, confidential and anonymous if you wish.
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
Frauenhaus Zürich 24h-Helpline
Frauenhaus Zürich
24-hour helpline that assesses whether a women's shelter stay is right for you and arranges pick-up from a neutral meeting point, even at night.
- +41 44 350 04 04
- 24 hours, 365 days a year
- Website
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BIF Beratungs- und Informationsstelle für Frauen
Free, confidential counselling for women and FLINTA people experiencing violence in marriage or relationships; interpreters are added by call-back.
- +41 44 278 99 99
- Quellenstrasse 31, 8005 Zürich
- Phone Mon, Wed-Fri 9:00-11:00 and 14:00-16:00; Tue 8:30-11:00 and 16:00-18:00
- German
- free
- Website
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Frauenberatung sexuelle Gewalt
Free, confidential and optionally anonymous counselling for women and non-binary people affected by sexual or domestic violence, and their relatives.
- +41 44 291 46 46
- Letzigraben 89, 8003 Zürich
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00; Wed 13:00-16:00
- German
- free
- Website
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Opferberatung Zürich
Free, confidential counselling for victims of crime, including assault, family violence and sexual violence, with chat and 24/7 online counselling.
- +41 44 299 40 50
- Gartenhofstrasse 17, 8004 Zürich
- German
- free
- Website
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Beratungsstelle Castagna
Free, confidential psychosocial support for people of any age or gender who experienced sexual violence in childhood or adolescence, and those close to them.
- +41 44 360 90 40
- Universitätstrasse 86, 8006 Zürich
- German
- free
- Website
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
FIZ Advocacy and Support for Migrant Women and Victims of Trafficking
FIZ Fachstelle Frauenhandel und Frauenmigration
Free, confidential counselling for migrant women facing exploitation or violence, plus a protection programme for victims of trafficking.
- +41 44 436 90 00
- Hohlstrasse 511, 8048 Zürich
- German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Turkish
- English available
- free
- Website
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
periparto
Swiss organisation for mental health around birth, offering free counselling, a self-test and accounts from parents who have been through it.
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
147 Beratung für junge Menschen
Free, confidential support for young people by phone around the clock, plus WhatsApp, email and a peer chat.
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
du-bist-du
Peer counselling by email or in person for young people with questions about sexual or romantic orientation or gender identity.
- German
- Website
Checked 2026-10-19 · source
Questions about support in Zurich
Where can I get urgent mental health help in Zurich?
In an emergency, call 144 and 117. For a mental health crisis in Zurich, you can also contact Notfall Erwachsene (Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich) (+41 58 384 20 00), AERZTEFON (0800 33 66 55) and Die Dargebotene Hand 143 (143). Hours and the official source for each service are listed on this page.
Is there English-speaking support in Zurich?
Yes. These local services say they offer English: Die Dargebotene Hand 143 (143) and FIZ Advocacy and Support for Migrant Women and Victims of Trafficking (+41 44 436 90 00).
Where can women experiencing violence get help in Zurich?
Contact Opferhilfe-Nummer 142 (142), Frauenhaus Zürich 24h-Helpline (+41 44 350 04 04) and BIF Beratungs- und Informationsstelle für Frauen (+41 44 278 99 99). Shelter addresses are kept confidential, so the helpline or counselling centre arranges a safe place. In immediate danger, call 144 and 117.
Are these services free?
Many are. These say they are free: AERZTEFON, Opferhilfe-Nummer 142, BIF Beratungs- und Informationsstelle für Frauen, Frauenberatung sexuelle Gewalt and Opferberatung Zürich. Costs for the others are shown on each entry or on the service's own website.