Oh no, it's flu season!
Not feeling well? Here are 3 things you need to know about healthcare in Germany as an international student!
2023/12/20
As winter is here, a lot of you might be wondering what you should do in the unfortunate case that you get sick or feel mentally unwell. We are aware that navigating the intricacies of healthcare in a whole new country can be intimidating, especially when you are combating illnesses and are faced with an unfamiliar medical system. In this article, we will be providing essential tips and resources to ensure your well-being during your stay here in Darmstadt.
A must-do: Find a general practitioner now!
Have you gotten a cold this winter and wondered who you should turn to? A general practitioner (Allgemeinarzt or Hausarzt) is usually the first point of contact for adults in case of general illness or injury, that’s why it’s absolutely crucial that you look for a general practitioner once you have arrived in Darmstadt. What you need to do is contact them and tell them that you are new in the city and are looking for a general practitioner, then they’ll guide you through the registration process, but due to the amount of people looking for a general practitioner all over Germany, this process can be somewhat difficult. That’s why you should try to do this as soon as possible and keep trying! We have created an overview of doctors in Darmstadt (opens in new tab) to help you get started with your search. Arztsuche Hessen (opens in new tab) is another resource where you can find doctors that suit your needs and if you find yourself in need of any kind of special treatment, you should first go to your general practitioner who will first assess your situation and recommend you to a suitable specialist (Facharzt).
As exam season slowly approaches, it’s crucial to remember that if you get sick on the day of an exam, then you have to submit a medical certificate (Attest) from a general practitioner to the Office for Student Affairs of your degree programme within three days after the examination date. This is all the more reason why getting a general practitioner in advance is so important as a student. For more information, read up on the university’s website on this topic.
Emergencies and what to do outside of normal opening times
Sometimes, you might find yourself in a situation where there’s a need for immediate treatment for a medical emergency. In such situations, these resources will be helpful for you:
- In case of an emergency where you or other people are in immediate risk of extreme bodily harm or are experiencing life-threatening illnesses (for example, when you experience severe shortness of breath, have heavily bleeding wounds, heart problems, poisoning, etc.), please don’t hesitate to call 112 for an ambulance.
- For less urgent situations, there is the medical on-call-service (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst), which is a telephone hotline which ensures outpatient medical care outside of normal doctor opening times. They are reachable by telephone on 116 117. Further information on their services (certain content only in German) can be found on the website of the medical on-call-service.
- Klinikum Darmstadt has an emergency room for all sorts of medical emergencies. They are open every day of the year 24/7 in case you ever find yourself in need of their services. For a list of other hospitals in Darmstadt (which might not be open 24/7), go to Darmstadt’s website.
- If the illness is not life-threatening and it is normal opening hours, please first and foremost contact your general practitioner.
Mental health – where to find help
Physical health isn’t the only thing at risk during the winter season. It’s cold and dark and many people often feel down during this time of the year, so if you are feeling this way, don’t worry, you are not alone.
It’s important to remember that your mental health is just as significant as your physical health as it can influence your life and well-being greatly. Just like with other health issues, first contact regarding this topic with your general practitioner can be helpful. This way you can get a first orientation and possibly a further referral. There are also other resources that you can turn to if you ever find yourself in need of support during tough times and bad mental health episodes. TU Darmstadt’s student health management ‘betterTUgether’ has compiled a helpful list of resources in times of crises and challenging situations.
An option offered by Studierendenwerk is the Psychotherapeutische Beratungsstelle (PBS). They are an organization which counsels students regarding a variety of different questions and situations. You can approach them when you need support regarding issues like depression, anxiety, family or relationship issues, sexuality, and more. They offer one to one consultations and also consultations with related people such as partners and family members. These consultations are free of charge and naturally the workers are to be trusted regarding your private and personal information. Not only that, but these consultations can be done per video or in person, depending on what you’re comfortable with. All you need to do is register by calling the number on their website, where you can also find more information about them.
If you find yourself in an acute mental health crisis, then these resources from PBS’s website will be of help to you. On their website, you can find support hotlines and information on what you need to do if you are in need of outpatient psychotherapy (PBS does not offer outpatient psychotherapy).
We hope that this article has managed to clear some things up for you and also reminded you of how important it is to take care of your health and well-being. So, if you for example still don’t have a general practitioner, please don’t forget to find one as soon as you possibly can!
Of course, your health isn’t something that you only need to pay attention to when you are sick or feeling unwell. Taking necessary breaks between your studying, having a good support system, eating healthy, and doing some sports are just some examples of things that you should integrate as part of your lifestyle to ensure that you lead a healthy life. You can visit betterTUgether’s website for various resources and ideas on how to do this as a student of TU Darmstadt.
We hope that you stay healthy, and we also wish you a wonderful end to the year!
Natasha,
Student Assistant at ISS
As an international student, getting sick for the first time in a new country was a pretty scary experience for me. I know that finding a doctor when you're unwell can be challenging. I highly suggest looking for a general practitioner shortly after your arrival in Germany. This way, you'll have one less concern when you require medical attention.
