Need assistance or support in an emergency or during a difficult time in Spain? Here are the numbers you can call to receive help in English.
It can be difficult when you first move to Spain, especially during the first few years when you’re still learning the language and you’re not confident in your speaking abilities. This is particularly true when it comes to speaking on the telephone.
What happens in an emergency situation when you have to get on the phone and ask for help – are there numbers you call where you’ll be attended in English?
Even when you have mastered basic Spanish skills, if you’re in an emergency situation or going through a difficult time, your brain might not be thinking clearly and you may not be able to formulate the words in Spanish.
Therefore, it’s important to know which emergency help lines have English services available.
112 emergency number
Spain’s main emergency number 112 can connect you with police, ambulance or fire services and has English-speaking staff available. This is the most useful number when it comes to all types of emergencies.
Line 024 for suicide prevention
If you are feeling very depressed or having suicidal thoughts in Spain you can call 024. It’s in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year and you are able to talk to English-speaking counsellors and experts to help support you.
Samaritans in Spain
The number for Samaritans in Spain is 900 525 100. The line is available to English speakers residing across Spain, irrespective of nationality. You can call them if you feel depressed or lonely or are considering self-harm or suicide. They can also help with issues such as domestic abuse, grief and loss and anxiety.
Suicide Prevention / Teléfono Contra el Suicidio
Another suicide prevention hotline is available in English on 911 385 385. They offer specialised, high-quality care with mental health professionals, including psychologists and psychiatrists.
Spanish Red Cross
For general emergencies and assistance in non-life threatening situations you can call the Spanish Red Cross on 902 222 292. They address issues to do with social inclusion, employment, education, health and the environment.
Age in Spain
Age in Spain offers services in English on 932 20 97 41 Tuesdays to Thursdays from 11am-1pm or you can message them. They can offer support on residency, healthcare, moving to Spain, personal support and a social telephone service for those who are lonely and want to stay connected. There is also help for veterans.
Maritime Sea Rescue and Coastguard
For accidents and emergencies that happen and sea or from the beach, you can call 900 202 202 to get hold of the coastguard and maritime sea rescue services. They also have English speaking staff, but you can also call 112 if you need to.
Gender violence
In order to report a case of gender violence you can all 016 (WhatsApp 600 000 016; email: 016-online@msssi.es). The service is free and confidential and is available in English 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Missing Children
If your child is missing and you need support, you can call the dedicated hotline on 116 000. It is available in Spain, as well as in 32 countries across Europe and they have English-speaking advisors. Note, this is not to report a missing child, this should be done via the police. This is to receive immediate emotional, psychological, social, legal and administrative support.
Crime Victim Support
If you have been the victim of a crime in Spain and need advice and support, you can call 900 150 909. English-speaking advisors are available. It’s free and is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Justice.
Al-Anon
This organisation provides dedicated support to families of alcoholics. While it doesn’t have one dedicated support number, there are various numbers you can call to find out about meetings in your area on the website.
Embassies and Consulates
If you need other support or help, you can call your embassy or local consulate and be attended in English or another native language, depending on what country it belongs to.
Banks
Many banks in Spain offer specific help numbers for their English-speaking clients. These include CaixaBank, Sabadell, Banco Santander, Bankinter and many more. These are usually available to customers and can provide financial advice or help with queries regarding your account.
