AnonKindpart of anonkonform

• When you call
• At the GP
• Hospital and waiting
• Psychiatry
• The municipality
• Violence and abuse
• LGBT+ and trans
• Gender equality
• No CPR / EU citizen
• Alcohol and drugs
• Sex work
• Shelters
• Free legal help
• Complain

Write a complaint or ask for something Find the right psychologist

When you call – and aren't heard

Many people are turned away, put on hold, met with irritation or hung up on – exactly when they are at their worst. It is not your fault, and you are allowed to try again.

What you can say

“I am in a mental health crisis and I need help now.”

“I would like to speak to someone with psychiatric experience.”

“Can you tell me your name? And what do I do if you can't help me?”

“I find it hard to talk. Can you ask yes/no questions?”

Psychiatric help by phone – nationwide from 17 August 2026

The out-of-hours doctor line and emergency phone in all five regions now have staff with psychiatric experience – nurses and social and health care assistants, with a psychiatrist in the background. They can talk with you for longer, advise on next steps, call you back and refer you to psychiatry. Call the region you are in right now:

About 112: The law does not say you have a right to be transferred to a psychologist. But if you call 112 in a mental health crisis, you should be able to get psychiatric advice and assessment – in most regions through the dispatch centre (AMK). In North Denmark Region, psychiatry sits next to 112 around the clock. If a life is in danger, 112 is always the right number.

If they hang up or won't help

1. Call again – or call another line straight away (see helplines). You may call several places.
2. Write down: date, time, which number, what you said, what they answered – and the name if you can.
3. It is usually legal to record a conversation you take part in yourself. Use it to remember and for a complaint – don't post it online.
4. Ask someone you trust to call with you or for you. If you prefer writing, Livslinien and Psykiatrifonden have chat (see chat and forums).
5. Complain afterwards, when you have the energy. Complaints are used to learn – and you can get an answer about what went wrong. Write the complaint here.

At the GP – if the doctor won't help

• Your GP can't just drop you. A GP can only ask you to find a new doctor in special cases – e.g. threats, or if trust has completely broken down – and the region must approve it. The doctor may not drop you just because you complained. You can complain to the region.
• You can always change GP on borger.dk with MitID. It costs DKK 40 (2026) – free e.g. when you move. If there are fewer than 2 GPs with open lists within 15 km (5 km in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Tårnby and Dragør), you can apply for a GP with a closed list.
• Ask directly for what you need: “Can you refer me to a psychologist / a psychiatrist / psychiatry?” A psychiatrist is free with a referral. A psychologist with a referral gives a subsidy – see the psychologist page.
• If the doctor says no, ask for the no and the reason to be written in your record. You can read your record yourself on sundhed.dk – and you can get a new assessment from another doctor or the out-of-hours service.
• You decide over your body. You can say no to medication, examinations and referrals – and change your mind.

Hospital, waiting times and records

• Assessment within 1 month. With a referral you have the right to be assessed within 30 days – also in adult psychiatry. If the region can't manage that, you can choose a private hospital or clinic the region has an agreement with (extended free choice of hospital).
• Mental illness and addiction at the same time: the right to joint treatment within 14 days (since 1 September 2024).
• Children and young people in psychiatry (from 1 January 2026): assessment must start within 1 month, and assessment and treatment within 2 months. Otherwise a care plan must be made.
• Your record: you have the right to see it or get a copy – free the first time. You must get an answer within 7 working days. A refusal must give reasons.
• Support person: you can bring someone you trust. Danske Patienter has free volunteer support persons: 33 41 47 57.
• The patient office in your region is free and independent, and helps when you are refused, wait too long or want to complain: Central 78 41 04 44 · South 76 63 14 90 · North 97 64 80 10 · Zealand 70 15 50 01 · Capital: at each hospital.

In psychiatry

• Voluntary is the starting point. Admission and treatment should as far as possible happen with your consent. You can say no to medication.
• Coercion only under the Psychiatry Act – and only if milder measures are not enough (least restrictive principle).
• Patient adviser: if you are subjected to coercion, you automatically get an independent patient adviser. They must visit you within 24 hours and help with everything about the admission – including complaints.
• Time to think: before forced treatment you normally get up to 3 days to think it over.
• Follow-up talk: after any coercion you have the right to a talk about what happened.
• Complaints: about coercion to the Psychiatric Patients' Complaints Board (under the Patient Complaints Board). From 1 March 2026 the deadline is 2 years (at most 5 years). Deprivation of liberty can also be tried in court.

At the municipality and job centre

• Written decision: you can always ask to get a no in writing – with reasons, the rules they use, and how to complain.
• Support person: you can bring someone to every meeting (Public Administration Act, section 8).
• Access to your file: you have the right to see the documents in your case (Public Administration Act, section 9).
• 4-week complaint deadline for social decisions. Send the complaint to the municipality – they look at it again and pass it on to Ankestyrelsen. You can call and say you are complaining before the deadline and write the rest later.
• Which benefits, and how long? Cash benefit, disability pension, housing benefit, housing support (s. 85), meal service – and your municipality's own deadlines: see Benefits and support.
• Intellectual disability? Lev gives free advice on rights and complaints about refusals: 80 38 08 88.

Violence, rape and abuse

• You decide. You don't have to report anything to get help. The rape crisis centres are free and need no referral.
• Women's shelter: you can contact a shelter yourself – also anonymously. Call 1888 (24/7).
• Free victim's lawyer: if you report violence or rape, you can get a free lawyer who helps you through the case – including compensation. Ask the police or the district court.
• Victim support: free, anonymous, around the clock: 116 006 – also for witnesses and relatives.
• Psychologist: violence, robbery, rape and sexual abuse before 18 give you the right to a referral to a psychologist with a subsidy – see the psychologist page.

LGBT+ and trans

• New CPR number (legal gender change), from 18: you apply to the CPR office, wait a 6-month reflection period and then confirm in writing. You don't need to live in your gender or have treatment. Under 18: only in special cases – ask LGBT+ Danmark or FSTB.
• Discrimination: discrimination because of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics is banned – also in shops and by public authorities (since 1 January 2022). At work, sexual orientation is also protected. Complaining to the Board of Equal Treatment is free and in writing.
• Hate crime: report it to the police (114, or 112 if urgent). Write down what was said. Victim support helps you: 116 006.
• Free legal advice: LGBT+ Danmark (volunteer lawyers) – gender change, name, marriage, residence and discrimination. Tuesday and Thursday 18–20: 33 13 19 48.

Gender equality and women's rights

• The Gender Equality Act bans discrimination because of gender – e.g. pay, hiring, dismissal because of pregnancy, and sexual harassment. Complain for free to the Board of Equal Treatment – or get help from your union.
• Sex without consent is rape under Danish law (since 2021). You don't have to prove that you said no or resisted.
• Free, anonymous advice from lawyers and psychologists, for all genders: Dansk Kvindesamfunds Rådgivning, Wednesday 19–20, 53 83 91 19 (Niels Hemmingsens Gade 10, Copenhagen).

Without a CPR number or as an EU citizen

• Blue EU health insurance card (EHIC): if you have one from your home country, you have the right to necessary treatment on the same terms as Danes. Bring it – or ask for it to be sent.
• Without health cover the region can send a bill afterwards for hospital treatment. Call the Red Cross health clinic first – it is free and doesn't ask for papers.
• Homeless EU citizen in Copenhagen? Kompasset (Kirkens Korshær) advises on your rights: 24 79 25 20.

Alcohol and drugs

• Free treatment within 14 days. The municipality must start treatment for alcohol or drug problems no later than 14 days after you ask for it. You don't have to have decided to stop completely.
• Anonymous: many open advice services about alcohol and drugs can be used without giving your name.
• Overdose? Call 112. The Poison Line advises around the clock: 82 12 12 12.

Sex work and trafficking

• Selling sex yourself is not illegal in Denmark. You have the same right to a doctor, crisis help and the police as everyone else.
• Trafficking: if someone else controls your passport, your money or where you live, you can get support, medical help and a safe place to stay – also without papers. Start with an NGO such as AmiAmi (21 69 29 88), HopeNow (26 16 10 12) or Reden International (22 10 21 62).
• Free legal help: Stenbroens Jurister help sex workers, homeless people and drug users – relatives can call too: 33 33 05 05.

Shelters and night shelters

• You can usually turn up yourself at a shelter or night shelter – you don't need a referral from the municipality.
• If you are turned away, ask where you can sleep instead tonight, and ask for the name of the person you spoke to. Your municipality's homelessness team can help further.
• Supervision: shelters, women's shelters and supported housing are supervised by Socialtilsynet – you can complain to the place, to the municipality and tell Socialtilsynet.

Free legal help

Legal aid is free first advice from lawyers. Bring your papers – letters, decisions and dates – and write your questions down first. If you have contents insurance, it often covers lawyer costs (legal expenses cover).

Legal aid and duty lawyers in your town

The Civil Affairs Agency's list of approved places in 2026 (call or search the name for address and opening hours):

• Horsens: Retshjælpen “Råd til Ret” · Advokaternes Retshjælp i Horsens
• Vejle: Trekantområdets Retshjælp · Vejle Advokaternes Retshjælp
• Fredericia og Kolding: Retshjælpen “Råd til Ret”
• Aarhus: Den Sociale Retshjælp · Aarhus Retshjælp · Den Mobile Retshjælp · Studenterrådets Retshjælp · Aarhus Krim Retshjælp · Gellerupparkens Retshjælp (Brabrand)
• Odder og Silkeborg: Odder Advokaternes Retshjælp · Silkeborg Retshjælp
• Odense: Odense Retshjælp · De Jurastuderendes Retshjælp · Retshjælpen på Fyn
• København: Københavns Retshjælp · Den Sociale Retshjælp · Kofoeds Skoles Retshjælp · Retshjælpen Rusk · Vesterbro Retshjælp · Settlementets Retshjælp · Dannerhusets Rådgivning · Københavnske Advokaters Retshjælp
• Aalborg: De Jurastuderendes Retshjælp · Advokaternes Frie Retshjælp i Aalborg
• Esbjerg: Esbjerg Retshjælp · Advokaternes Retshjælp i Esbjerg
• Herning, Holstebro, Viborg: Arbejdernes Retshjælp i Ringkøbing Amt · Herning Advokatvagt · Viborg Retshjælp
• Roskilde og Hillerød: Retshjælpen i Roskilde · Hillerød Retshjælp

Retshjælpen “Råd til Ret” also has offices in e.g. Aabenraa, Grenaa, Haderslev, Hjørring, Næstved, Slagelse, Sønderborg and Thisted. Duty lawyers (Advokatvagten) exist in many more towns – see the Danish Bar's list. Full list (pdf)

Complain – or ask for something in writing

The complaint helper writes the letter for you and tells you where to send it and what the deadline is. You can also ask for a written reason, see your record or say you are bringing a support person. Nothing is sent – you copy, print or save the text yourself.

Open the complaint helper

Sources

• Psychiatric emergency phone nationwide from 17 August 2026: beredskabsinfo.dk
• Danish Health Authority on acute mental crisis: sst.dk
• Right to assessment and treatment deadlines: lovguiden.dk
• Patient rights in psychiatry: borger.dk
• Psychiatry Act: coercion, time to think, complaint deadlines (changed 1 March 2026): lovguiden.dk
• Psychologist and psychiatrist: referral and subsidy: borger.dk
• Free treatment for 18–24-year-olds from 1 October 2026 (Southern Denmark): sundhed.dk
• Choosing and changing GP (2026 fee): borger.dk
• When a GP drops a patient: thelocal.dk
• Access to your medical record: aeldresagen.dk
• Complaints about municipal decisions (4 weeks): aeldresagen.dk
• Complaints about the police (6 months): lovguiden.dk
• Free victim's lawyer and duty lawyers: borger.dk
• Victim support: offerraadgivning.dk
• Health cover for foreigners: borger.dk
• New CPR number by gender identity (18+): cpr.dk
• Board of Equal Treatment: free, in writing, grounds: lovguiden.dk
• Gender identity and expression in law since 2022: lovguiden.dk
• Approved legal aid offices and duty lawyers 2026: Civilstyrelsen
• Stenbroens Jurister: stenbroensjurister.dk
• Telefonretshjælpen: tlfrh.dk
• Dansk Kvindesamfunds Rådgivning: danskkvindesamfundsraadgivning.dk
• LGBT+ Danmark – legal advice: lgbt.dk