Mental health support for British nationals in Georgia
Information about support for British nationals experiencing mental health difficulties in Georgia.
Read guidance on mental health abroad for broader advice on mental health issues while travelling or living abroad.
What to do in an emergency
In an emergency or for urgent medical attention call 112 for general emergency assistance. 112 call operators speak English.
Prescriptions
Bringing medicines in to Georgia
Read guidance on taking medicine in or out of the UK and Travel Advice for Georgia.
Georgian regulations on the use of psychoactive substances are strict. If your medication contains narcotic or psychoactive substances, you must carry a prescription in a form that is acceptable for local authorities. Check the website of the Revenue Service of Georgia for more details.
Accessing medicines in Georgia
If you are visiting Georgia and require a repeat or replacement prescription, you need to approach a certified psychiatrist directly or through a GP. In Georgia, you can buy prescription medicines only with a Georgian prescription. If your prescribed medication does not exist in Georgia or is illegal under the Georgian law, psychiatrists in Georgia will prescribe a similar product.
Bring a copy of your prescription to Georgia. This can help doctors find the exact or similar medication.
Admission to hospital for mental health reasons
Public and private hospitals with mental health facilities as well as specialised psychiatric hospitals are available in Georgia, but the quality of psychiatric services varies substantially across the network of providers. It may be below UK standards at public facilities and outside major cities. You should consider whether this impacts your ability to travel there.
Normally, psychiatric support is provided in Georgia by specialised medical institutions, which are separate from the mainstream facilities. The staff of these clinics may not speak English, so you may need a Georgian speaker to accompany you.
You can book an appointment with a GP, who would make a first assessment, provide initial support and refer you to the relevant medical specialist. If you have a pre-existing mental health condition, you can make an appointment directly with a psychiatrist, as no formal reference from a GP is required.
In smaller clinics there are no mental health specialists - you will need to go to the nearest regional polyclinic.
Not all healthcare providers speak English, although most will have the ability to communicate with foreigners in English.
You can also make an appointment with a psychologist or a psychiatrist at a private commercial clinic, which may have English-speaking doctors.
People experiencing a mental health crisis may be detained in hospital and treated against their wishes if they are thought to be a danger to themselves or others. This is comparable to the UK’s ‘sectioning’ procedure but there are significant differences in procedure and law. UK mental health law is non-transferrable to other countries so if a person is sectioned in the UK, this cannot be used to admit them to hospital abroad. The same applies to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws.
To assist health professionals treating you, you may be asked to provide a medical history or help in accessing UK medical records.
Consular staff cannot make decisions for you or influence any actions or decisions made by the medical professionals in Georgia.
The following private facilities offer psychological and psychiatric support.
Clinics in Tbilisi
Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction
+995 32 2301053
Sanamente
+995 32 2195575
Mentalvita
+995 32 229 35 25
Sakhli
+995 595 99 98 99
Mental Health Research Center
+995 32 244 05 50
Clinics in provinces
Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction - Regional Branches
Call +995 32 2301053 for details about regional offices.
Medical bills and insurance
Hospital bills and other medical fees may be high in Georgia without adequate travel insurance. If you are treated in hospital against your wishes, you may still be charged medical fees.
The cost of hospitalisation may be covered by your travel insurance. Your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are not valid in Georgia.
Make sure you declare any pre-existing conditions to your insurance provider to ensure your insurance is valid. Enquire where possible ahead of any treatment about likely cost and whether it will be covered by your insurance.
If you do not have any insurance, you will need to cover costs from your own personal funds.
Read about medical emergencies, treatment and hospitalisation abroad and foreign travel insurance.
Making decisions on behalf of someone lacking mental capacity
To make decisions on behalf of someone ‘lacking mental capacity’, speak to a lawyer in Georgia. In the UK, you can apply to become someone’s deputy if they ‘lack mental capacity’ but UK deputies are unlikely to be recognised in Georgia.
International organisations
These international organisations may be able to help you whilst you are overseas:
- Befrienders Worldwide with the Samaritans
- World Federation for Mental Health
- World Health Organization
Returning to the UK
If you are abroad and need help to return to the UK, the FCDO can try to assist in making plans for your return. See what the FCDO can and cannot do.
You may not automatically be entitled to state benefits if you have never lived in the UK, or if you have lived abroad for some time. This includes free NHS hospital treatment. See the returning to the UK guidance for more information, including on healthcare.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this guide is intended for your general guidance only, it is not a substitute for obtaining your own medical and legal advice. For more information, read our consular information disclaimer.