Wegweiser Depression · Help & Rights Deutsch

🧩 Self-help groups for depression

Self-help groups complement therapy and medication but do not replace them. Here is how to find a suitable group – also for relatives.

Self-help group NAKOS Self-help contact point (Selbsthilfekontaktstelle) § 20h SGB V Group for relatives

In brief

Self-help groups bring together people who have had similar experiences with depression – as a valuable complement to therapy and medical treatment, not a replacement for them. There are groups both for people affected themselves and for relatives.

Step by step

  1. Look for a local self-help contact pointLocal self-help contact points arrange suitable groups near you and advise free of charge.
  2. Use NAKOSThe National Contact and Information Centre for Encouraging and Supporting Self-Help Groups (NAKOS) offers a nationwide search and general information on self-help.
  3. Check depression support offersThe Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe and the Deutsche Depressionsliga list specialised groups for people with depression as well as for relatives.
  4. Try out a group without commitmentMost groups are open; a first get-to-know visit is usually possible without obligation, to see whether the group fits.
  5. Consider online alternativesIf no suitable group is within reach locally, some organisations offer moderated online exchange formats.

Deadlines

no statutory deadline
Taking part in a self-help group is voluntary and possible without formalities–
Watch out – common mistakes
  • A self-help group does not replace therapy or medical treatment in acute or severe depression.
  • Self-help groups are generally not professionally led – if there are warning signs of a crisis, exchange in the group does not replace professional help (see the topic page Acute treatment and crisis service).
  • The quality and fit of groups vary; it is normal to try several groups before one fits.
  • With online groups, pay attention to moderation and data protection, especially if personal health data is shared.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Funding of self-help by the health insurance funds

Statutory health insurance funds provide financial support for health-related self-help under § 20h SGB V, among other things through grants to self-help contact points and self-help organisations. This funding does not replace treatment but supports complementary offers such as group meetings, information material or training.

NAKOS

NAKOS has existed since 1984 as a nationwide contact and information centre for self-help, but itself arranges no diagnoses or treatment, only contacts to existing groups and regional contact points.

Complement, not replacement

According to a consistent professional assessment (including the Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe), exchange with other people affected is a sensible building block alongside psychotherapy and, where applicable, medication, especially for longer-term stabilisation after an acute episode – but it does not replace treatment in line with the guideline.

Who is responsible
  • Local self-help contact point
  • NAKOS
  • Health insurance fund (funding under § 20h SGB V)
Further reading
Advice and contact pointsRelatives of people with depressionOverview: help for depression

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Self-help groups for depression“?
Self-help groups complement therapy and medication but do not replace them. Here is how to find a suitable group – also for relatives.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
no statutory deadline: Taking part in a self-help group is voluntary and possible without formalities (–)
What should I do first?
  • Look for a local self-help contact point: Local self-help contact points arrange suitable groups near you and advise free of charge.
  • Use NAKOS: The National Contact and Information Centre for Encouraging and Supporting Self-Help Groups (NAKOS) offers a nationwide search and general information on self-help.
  • Check depression support offers: The Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe and the Deutsche Depressionsliga list specialised groups for people with depression as well as for relatives.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • A self-help group does not replace therapy or medical treatment in acute or severe depression.
  • Self-help groups are generally not professionally led – if there are warning signs of a crisis, exchange in the group does not replace professional help (see the topic page Acute treatment and crisis service).
  • The quality and fit of groups vary; it is normal to try several groups before one fits.
Evidence
  • § 20h SGB V (gesetze-im-internet.de)
  • NAKOS (nakos.de)
  • Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe – Self-help near you (deutsche-depressionshilfe.de)
As of

As of: September 2026 (National Care Guideline/S3 guideline Unipolar Depression, version 3.0, 2025). · Sources and method

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