Wegweiser Crisis of meaning · Orientation & support Deutsch

🤝 Self-help groups and discussion circles

Exchange with people in a similar situation – free, without a diagnosis, organised via NAKOS and local contact points.

Self-help group NAKOS Self-help contact point Discussion circle

In brief

Self-help groups bring together people with similar experiences – for example on upheavals in life, separation, grief or general questions of meaning. They are generally free of charge, do not require a diagnosis and are mostly organised by volunteers. The nationwide Nationale Kontakt- und Informationsstelle zur Anregung und Unterstützung von Selbsthilfegruppen (NAKOS, National Contact and Information Centre for the Encouragement and Support of Self-Help Groups) and regional self-help contact points help you find suitable groups.

Step by step

  1. Find a groupSearch by topic and postcode via the NAKOS database (nakos.de) or the local self-help contact point.
  2. Sit in without commitmentMost groups allow you to get to know them without any obligation to keep taking part.
  3. Try several groups if neededFit and group dynamics differ – a second attempt with another group is common and not a sign of failure.

Deadlines

Watch out – common mistakes
  • Not every region has a group specifically on the topic of "crisis of meaning" – groups on related topics (separation, grief, career change) often fit just as well.
  • Self-help groups do not replace psychotherapy for a diagnosed mental illness.
  • The quality and leadership of groups vary; if you feel uncomfortable, you can switch at any time.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Funding by health insurance funds

Statutory health insurance funds are obliged, as part of self-help funding under the relevant provisions of the SGB V, to provide financial support to health-related self-help (groups, contact points and associations). This funding concerns primarily health-related self-help in the strict sense; discussion circles on general life crises are in part additionally supported by municipalities or independent providers.

Who is responsible
  • NAKOS (nationwide)
  • Regional self-help contact points
Further reading
Psychosocial advice centresCrisis of meaning after an upheaval in life

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Self-help groups and discussion circles“?
Exchange with people in a similar situation – free, without a diagnosis, organised via NAKOS and local contact points.
What should I do first?
  • Find a group: Search by topic and postcode via the NAKOS database (nakos.de) or the local self-help contact point.
  • Sit in without commitment: Most groups allow you to get to know them without any obligation to keep taking part.
  • Try several groups if needed: Fit and group dynamics differ – a second attempt with another group is common and not a sign of failure.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Not every region has a group specifically on the topic of "crisis of meaning" – groups on related topics (separation, grief, career change) often fit just as well.
  • Self-help groups do not replace psychotherapy for a diagnosed mental illness.
  • The quality and leadership of groups vary; if you feel uncomfortable, you can switch at any time.
Evidence
  • NAKOS – Nationale Kontakt- und Informationsstelle zur Anregung und Unterstützung von Selbsthilfegruppen (nakos.de), retrieved September 2026
  • SGB V, provisions on self-help funding by statutory health insurance funds (gesetze-im-internet.de)
As of

As of September 2026 · Sources and method

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.