Mental health support for British nationals in Venezuela
Information about support for British nationals experiencing mental health difficulties in Venezuela.
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 911 and ask for the ambulance or police or go to the emergency department at any general hospital.
For less urgent medical attention visit the Venezuela state healthcare website. See our list of doctors and medical facilities in Venezuela.
The national suicide support line can be contacted through the national emergency number 911.
Not all medical or emergency services staff speak English. You may need to consider using a local translator or interpreter.
Prescriptions
Bringing medicines into Venezuela
Read guidance on taking medicine in or out of the UK and Venezuela travel advice pages.
Accessing medicines in Venezuela
You may find it difficult to source certain medicines in Venezuela. If you take regular medication, you should bring at least enough to last for your stay. Consider bringing extra medication in case your stay in Venezuela is extended for any reason.
If you need a repeat or replacement prescription while you are in Venezuela, you should approach a local pharmacy who can provide advice and a list of local doctors.
Bring a copy of your prescription to Venezuela. This can help doctors find the exact or similar medication. You may need to obtain a prescription issued by a local doctor to purchase certain medication locally.
Admission to hospital for mental health reasons
Hospitals with mental health facilities are very limited in Venezuela. Most public hospitals lack any specific mental care units, only some private clinics/facilities offer this type of care. You should consider whether this impacts your ability to travel there.
To access in-patient care voluntarily in Venezuela you must find a private clinic with a mental care unit/facilities to check on their in-patient availability and arrange for an evaluation and a payment plan prior to admission.
People experiencing a mental health crisis may be detained in hospital and treated against their wishes if they are thought to be a risk to themselves or others.
This is comparable to ’sectioning’ in the UK but there are significant differences in procedure and law. UK mental health law is non-transferrable to other countries so even 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.
Outpatient treatment
You may also be able to access outpatient care in Venezuela. You can find a list of hospitals that offer outpatient mental health care in our list of doctors and medical facilities for Venezuela.
Medical bills and insurance
Hospital bills and other medical fees may be high in Venezuela 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. You may be entitled to non-urgent medical attention. Check with your provider before receiving care.
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 adequate 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 Venezuela for advice. 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 Venezuela without a local court order to that effect.
Support from agencies and organisations in Venezuela
Contact these organisations in Venezuela for mental health support and advice:
These organisations are unlikely to have English-speaking staff.
You may wish to contact some international social support organisations that also provide support in Venezuela, such as:
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.