Mental health difficulties — anxiety, depression, burnout, adjustment to a new country, or persistent patterns of thought and behaviour that are affecting your quality of life — respond best to structured, evidence-based clinical support from a qualified professional.
For expats and international residents in Romania, the barrier to mental health support is frequently linguistic. Finding a therapist or psychiatrist who works at a level of English that allows genuine clinical depth is genuinely difficult — particularly outside Bucharest. Our doctors, registered with the Romanian College of Physicians (CMR), offer confidential GP-level mental health assessments in English by secure video call — removing the language barrier that prevents many international residents from accessing the support they need.
What This Service Is — And What It Is Not
Understanding which level of mental health support is right for you helps ensure you access the most appropriate care.
This GP-level mental health consultation is appropriate for:
- Initial assessment of anxiety, low mood, depression, and stress
- Screening for common mental health conditions using validated clinical tools
- Assessment of how mental health symptoms interact with physical health
- Clinical recommendations and care planning at the doctor's professional discretion
- Referral for psychology, psychiatry, or other specialist support where indicated
- Guidance on mental health services available in Romania in English
- Review of existing mental health management and ongoing support
- ADHD — initial screening and referral pathway where indicated
This service is not appropriate for:
- Crisis intervention — if you are in crisis, use the resources at the top of this page
- Psychiatric assessment — if you need a psychiatrist, your doctor coordinates referral
- Psychotherapy or counselling — this is a medical assessment, not a therapy session
Assessment of psychosis, severe bipolar disorder, or complex psychiatric conditions — these require specialist psychiatric assessment
- Involuntary psychiatric assessment or treatment under Romanian law
Not sure which level of support is right for you? Start with this consultation. Your doctor assesses your presentation and advises on the most appropriate next steps — including whether specialist psychology or psychiatry is indicated.
Conditions Commonly Assessed
- Anxiety and stress
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety and performance anxiety
- Health anxiety
- Panic attacks and panic disorder
- Work-related stress and burnout
- Adjustment difficulties — new country, new job, relationship changes
- Expat-specific stress — cultural adjustment, isolation, identity concerns, family separation
- Mood
- Low mood and depression
- Persistent sadness and loss of interest
- Emotional exhaustion and anhedonia
- Postnatal mood changes — low mood and anxiety after childbirth
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Grief and bereavement
- Sleep and behaviour
- Insomnia and sleep disturbance with psychological contributors
- Fatigue with psychological contributors
- Appetite changes and eating patterns related to mood
- Concentration and cognitive difficulties related to anxiety or depression
- Trauma and life events
Initial assessment of trauma-related symptoms — with referral to specialist psychological support where indicated
- Adjustment to significant life events — bereavement, relationship breakdown, job loss
- Expat stress and relocation — cultural adjustment, isolation, identity concerns
- Ongoing mental health management
- Review of existing mental health conditions managed at GP level
- Mental health assessment in the context of chronic disease management
- ADHD — initial screening and referral for formal assessment where indicated
- Assessment of mental health medication concerns at GP level
What Your Consultation Includes
Confidential clinical assessmentYour doctor conducts a structured and comprehensive mental health assessment — covering your current symptoms, mood, sleep, energy, appetite, concentration, relationships, work or academic pressures, medical history, and any previous mental health support. The conversation is guided, confidential, and non-judgmental.
Validated screening toolsWhere appropriate, your doctor uses validated clinical screening tools — including PHQ-9 for depression and GAD-7 for anxiety — ensuring a structured, evidence-based assessment of your current mental health.
Safety assessmentEvery mental health consultation includes a structured safety assessment — conducted with sensitivity as a standard component of clinical care. If risk is identified, your doctor advises on the appropriate pathway and ensures you are connected to the right support.
Personalised care planBased on the assessment, your doctor advises on the most appropriate next steps — which may include wellbeing and lifestyle recommendations, referral for psychology or psychotherapy, guidance on community and specialist services available in Romania, psychiatric referral where indicated, or clinical recommendations at the doctor's professional discretion.
Navigation supportNavigating the mental health system in Romania as an international resident is genuinely difficult. Your doctor provides clear guidance on what services are available in English, how to access them, and what to expect from the Romanian mental health system.
Electronic prescription — where clinically appropriateWhen clinically indicated at GP level, your doctor issues an electronic prescription through SIPE. You present it at any pharmacy of your choice in Romania.
Note: Special-regime prescriptions covering certain psychiatric medications cannot be transmitted electronically under Romanian law. Your doctor advises if this applies to your situation.
Mental Health Support for Expats in Romania
Mental health difficulties are disproportionately common among expats and international residents — driven by isolation, cultural adjustment, language barriers, family separation, and the cumulative stress of building a life in a new country.
Accessing mental health support in Romania as an international resident brings additional challenges. English-speaking psychiatrists and psychologists exist in Bucharest and in some other major cities — but availability is limited, waiting times can be long, and the cost of private mental health care in Romania is significant. For expats outside Bucharest, the options narrow further.
Our service provides an accessible first step — a structured, clinical mental health assessment in English, same day, from anywhere in Romania — with clear guidance on next steps and how to access specialist support where needed.
Confidentiality
Everything discussed during your mental health consultation is confidential and protected under Romanian and European data protection law — including Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Romanian Law no. 190/2018 on personal data processing.
There are two circumstances in which confidentiality may need to be carefully considered — when there is serious and immediate risk to your life or safety, or when there is serious risk to the safety of another person. Your doctor discusses confidentiality with you at the outset of the consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a counselling or therapy service?No. This is a GP-level mental health assessment. Our doctors assess your current mental health, provide clinical recommendations, and refer you to the appropriate level of support — including counselling, psychotherapy, or psychiatry where indicated. Counselling or psychotherapy sessions are not provided through this service.
What if I need to see a psychiatrist?If your assessment indicates that psychiatric assessment is needed, your doctor advises clearly and coordinates referral to the appropriate specialist service — including English-speaking psychiatric services in Romania where available.
Will my employer or anyone else be informed?No. Your consultation is completely confidential and protected under Romanian and European data protection law. Information is not shared without your explicit consent, except in the very limited circumstances described in the confidentiality section above.
Can I use this service if I am already seeing a therapist?Yes. A GP-level mental health assessment can complement ongoing psychological or therapeutic support — particularly where clinical recommendations, physical health assessment, or care coordination are needed alongside your therapeutic work.
Is this service suitable for adolescents?Mental health consultations for patients under 16 require parental or guardian presence and consent. For adolescents aged 16 and over, the doctor assesses capacity to consent individually in accordance with Romanian medical and legal standards.
What if I am in crisis during or after the consultation?If you are in crisis, use the crisis resources listed at the top of this page — Telefonul Verde (0800 800 381) or 112 in immediate danger. This service is not a crisis intervention service.
Can I discuss ADHD concerns through this service?Yes. Initial ADHD screening at GP level is available through this service. Formal ADHD diagnosis requires specialist assessment — your doctor advises on the appropriate referral pathway if screening indicates this is warranted.
Do I need Romanian health insurance?No. This is a private-pay service. Prescriptions issued through this service are dispensed at full private cost regardless of insurance status.
I am not in Bucharest — can I still use this service?Yes. This service is available from anywhere in Romania — all you need is a stable internet connection and a device with a camera.