Stage 6 · Lesson 3 of 7
Help you can afford
Private therapy can be expensive, but there are cheaper routes. Government and teaching hospitals often have psychiatry and psychology outpatient departments with low fees, though there may be a wait. In India, Tele-MANAS on 14416 is free and can connect you to further support.
Some NGOs and helplines in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and elsewhere offer free or low-cost counselling, and university psychology departments sometimes run clinics where supervised trainees see clients at low cost. Online sessions can be cheaper than in person.
Some workplaces offer an employee assistance programme with free confidential sessions; check your HR policy. Structured online CBT programmes and peer support chats can help while you wait, though they are not a replacement for treatment.
Common trapassuming help is out of reach without asking about fees or sliding scales.
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Resources for this stage
Start with
- GuideFreeMind: mental health information and support
Mind
What different talking therapies involve and what to expect from them
Practise
Keep handy
Also worth your time
Struggling right now? If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line: Find a helpline (any country), Umang (Pakistan), Tele-MANAS, 14416 (India).