🌧️ Wegweiser Depression

15 topic pages for people with depression, their relatives and everyone who advises or supports them. Each page first explains the topic briefly and clearly – and below that in detail, with deadlines, legal bases and practice.

How this page works. At the top you can search all topics by keyword. Each topic page begins with the section In brief in plain language. Below that you will find Step by step, the most important Deadlines, typical mistakes under Caution and a collapsible specialist section "In depth" for advisory work, with legal bases and practice.

If you are thinking about suicide right now or are in acute danger: You are not alone. Call the TelefonSeelsorge (telephone counselling service) – free of charge, anonymous, around the clock: 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 (telefonseelsorge.de). In acute danger, dial the emergency number 112 or go to the nearest emergency room.

As of September 2026 (National Care Guideline/S3 guideline Unipolar Depression, version 3.0, 2025). Where a statement could not be verified beyond doubt from official sources (e.g. study figures on waiting times or GdB guideline values), this is expressly noted on the relevant page instead of guessed. The information does not replace medical, psychotherapeutic or legal advice in an individual case.

Frequently searched

🚨 Acute treatment and crisis service 🔎 Finding a therapy place 💳 Cost coverage for psychotherapy 📄 Sick leave for depression 📉 Reduced earning capacity in depression 🪪 Severe disability in depression 🔄 Return to work after depression 📞 Advice and contact points

All topic areas

🧭Overview and first stepsGetting started: what depression is and who helps first.2 topics 🚨Acute crisis and hospitalImmediate help, crisis services and inpatient treatment.2 topics 🩺Treatment and therapyFinding a therapy place, cost coverage, medication.3 topics 💼Work and sick leaveSick notes, gradual return to work, employment law.3 topics ⚖️Reduced earning capacity and severe disabilityWhen depression permanently limits your ability to work.2 topics 🤝Relatives and self-helpSupporting someone without losing yourself.2 topics 📞Advice and contact pointsWho is responsible for which concern.1 topic

🧭 Overview and first steps

Getting started: what depression is and who helps first.

🧭Overview: help for depressionDepression is a serious, highly treatable illness – not a personal failing. This overview shows which routes to help exist in Germany. 🩹First points of contact and the role of the GPGP practice, psychotherapy consultation hour or 116117: This page sorts out the first routes of contact and what to expect there.

🚨 Acute crisis and hospital

Immediate help, crisis services and inpatient treatment.

🚨Acute treatment and crisis serviceWhen it cannot wait until the next appointment: emergency number, TelefonSeelsorge, regional crisis services and psychotherapeutic acute treatment at a glance. 🏥Hospital stay and admissionVoluntary inpatient treatment is the rule. Placement against your own will is tightly limited and requires a court order.

🩺 Treatment and therapy

Finding a therapy place, cost coverage, medication.

🔎Finding a therapy placeWaiting times for a psychotherapy place are a known problem – this page shows which routes exist and what waiting-time studies actually show. 💳Cost coverage for psychotherapyConsultation hour, acute treatment, preliminary sessions, application: this is how cost coverage by statutory health insurance works – and what you have to do yourself. 💊Medication: the basicsOrganisational and legal matters around antidepressants – no dosage recommendations. For all medical questions your doctor is responsible.

💼 Work and sick leave

Sick notes, gradual return to work, employment law.

📄Sick leave for depressionIncapacity for work due to depression: reporting duties, continued pay, sickness benefit and what your employer may learn. 🔄Return to work after depressionGradual reintegration (Hamburg model) and workplace integration management (BEM) help with returning to work after a longer illness. ⚖️Depression and employment lawDismissal during depression, duties of disclosure and protection against discrimination: the most important basic employment-law questions.

⚖️ Reduced earning capacity and severe disability

When depression permanently limits your ability to work.

📉Reduced earning capacity in depressionIf depression permanently and severely limits your ability to work, a reduced earning capacity pension (Erwerbsminderungsrente) may come into question – under the principle "rehabilitation before pension". 🪪Severe disability in depressionA degree of disability (GdB) can also be recognised for chronic or severe depression – with noticeable compensation for disadvantages at work.

🤝 Relatives and self-help

Supporting someone without losing yourself.

🤝Relatives of people with depressionSupporting without losing yourself: practical and legal tips for relatives, partners and friends. 🧩Self-help groups for depressionSelf-help groups complement therapy and medication but do not replace them. Here is how to find a suitable group – also for relatives.

📞 Advice and contact points

Who is responsible for which concern.

📞Advice and contact pointsWho is responsible for which concern? A compact overview of all important contacts around depression – for reference and saving.

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.