In Lithuania, free psychological support can be available through your registered mental health centre, municipal public health services and emotional support organisations. These routes do different jobs. Start by considering whether you need a clinical assessment, support with psychological wellbeing or someone to talk to during a difficult moment.
This website also describes paid individual online consultations. These are a separate choice. If free support is what you need now, use the public routes below. You do not need to pay for a private appointment to access them.
If there is an immediate threat to life or you cannot stay safe, call 112 in Lithuania and the EU, or local emergency services elsewhere. Do not wait for a routine appointment. For emotional support, check the current contact options and opening hours in the Pagalba Sau support-line directory.
Compare the main routes
On a small screen, scroll sideways to read the table.
| Service | When to consider it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Mental health centre | Assessment of mental health difficulties and planning further care. | Your registration, compulsory insurance and coverage for the service. |
| Municipal public health bureau | Psychological wellbeing consultations or group activities. | Municipality, programme eligibility, booking and follow-on support. |
| Emotional support line | Being heard during a difficult moment. | Age group, language, contact method and opening hours. |
These are not interchangeable offers. An emotional support conversation does not itself provide a medical assessment. Joining a wellbeing programme does not guarantee ongoing therapy.
Mental health centres: insurance, contracts and registration
According to Lithuania’s National Health Insurance Fund, primary mental health services are funded for people with compulsory health insurance, known as PSD, through appropriately contracted providers. The relevant contract and service matter, not simply public or private ownership. You need to be registered with the centre.
A GP referral is not required for primary services at your registered centre, as explained in the National Health Insurance Fund’s guide, page 18 (PDF). Other specialist services or programmes may have different requirements. Say exactly which appointment you are requesting rather than assuming one rule applies everywhere.
If you do not know your centre, ask the reception team at your family doctor’s practice. If you want to choose another provider, consult the official registration guidance and confirm the process with the centre. The linked official guidance is in Lithuanian.
Municipal wellbeing services
The Pagalba Sau public health bureau directory lists municipal services and describes psychological wellbeing support. This is a different route from insurance-funded clinical care. Ask whether the current programme serves your municipality and age group, and whether anonymous consultation is available.
There is no universal promise here about session numbers or waiting times. Programmes and appointment availability change. It is useful to establish what happens after the offered support finishes, especially if you expect to need continuing care.
A first-call script
“I am looking for a publicly funded appointment with a medical psychologist. Am I registered at your centre? Would this specific appointment be covered for me? How do I book, and what information do you need?”
If you are offered a paid appointment, ask whether this is a private slot, a different service or a problem with insurance or registration. Request a clear explanation. Questions about coverage can be checked with the National Health Insurance Fund rather than settled by someone else’s experience of another clinic.
If the first attempt does not work
There are no available appointments
Ask about a waiting list, cancellations and other suitable routes. If your condition worsens, explain the change and ask how to obtain an urgent assessment. Do not remain on a routine waiting list if you are in immediate danger.
I have recently moved to Lithuania or another town
Check insurance and registration before travelling to a clinic. Explain where you currently live and which language you need. Citizenship or an address alone does not settle all funding questions.
Even making a phone call feels too hard
Write down one opening sentence, use the provider’s published online registration option, or ask someone you trust to sit with you. Start with a booking question. You do not have to organise your entire care plan in the first conversation.
If the professional roles are unclear, read the psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist comparison. Our depression and anxiety guides explain common reasons for seeking support. The National Health Insurance Fund’s support directory also lists services.
Your questions
Questions you may still have
Do I need a GP referral to see a psychologist?
You do not need a GP referral for primary services at the mental health centre where you are registered. This does not mean every specialist or psychotherapy service is available without a referral. Check the requirements for the particular service.
Is publicly funded care only available in state clinics?
No. The provider’s relevant funding contract, your insurance and registration conditions matter more than whether it is publicly or privately owned. A contracted private provider can offer funded care, but not every appointment it sells will be covered.
How do I find my registered mental health centre?
Ask the reception team at your family doctor’s practice which mental health centre serves you. Contact that centre to confirm your registration and ask how to arrange an appointment with a medical psychologist.
What if I do not have Lithuanian compulsory health insurance?
Do not assume this closes every support route. Ask your municipal public health bureau about its programme conditions or look for emotional support. Check eligibility for health-insurance-funded services with the National Health Insurance Fund. In immediate danger, seek emergency help.
How many free sessions can I receive?
There is no single number covering all services and programmes. Ask the provider what is offered, how continuation is reviewed and where you can seek further help if necessary. This guide does not promise a fixed number or waiting time.
Can I receive free support in English?
Ask before booking. English-speaking staff, interpretation and remote appointments are not guaranteed across providers. State the language you need at the beginning so you can find out whether the service is accessible to you.
Are Iveta’s consultations covered by public insurance?
This guide describes public support routes, not public funding for Iveta’s services. Her individual online consultations are paid appointments. Nothing in this article establishes that they are covered by Lithuanian compulsory health insurance.
Is free support always anonymous?
No. Healthcare services generally require identification and clinical documentation. Anonymity depends on the type of support. Ask what information is required, who can access it and what limits to confidentiality apply before you register.
Sources and further information
- Valstybinė ligonių kasa. Ligonių kasos: pirminė psichologinė pagalba teikiama nemokamaiPublished 2023-10-10; PSD insurance, contracted providers, registration and PSDF-funded primary care. Checked 29 September 2026.
- Valstybinė ligonių kasa. Esminiai dalykai apie (ne)mokamas paslaugas (2025)Page 18: no referral required for funded primary mental health care for registered insured patients. Checked 29 September 2026.
- Pagalba sau. Visuomenės sveikatos biuraiPsychological wellbeing services and municipality directory; confirm current conditions locally. Checked 29 September 2026.
- Valstybinė ligonių kasa. Gyventojų prisirašymo prie PASP įstaigų tvarkaChoosing/registering with a mental health centre; accepted application routes. Checked 29 September 2026.
- Valstybinė ligonių kasa. Kur kreiptis psichologinės pagalbos?Routes to emotional, psychological and urgent support; funded service directory. Checked 29 September 2026.
This guide provides general information and does not replace an individual assessment. Illustrations do not depict actual clients.