Jordan (JO)
Jordan is a stable, welcoming Hashemite Kingdom at the crossroads of the Middle East — home to Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the legendary Wadi Rum desert, and the mineral-rich Dead Sea.
Mental Health Resources
Support, crisis lines and therapy access in Jordan.
Mental health services in Jordan are limited but growing. Stigma around mental health remains significant in traditional Jordanian culture, though the younger generation and international communities are more open. Private psychiatrists and psychologists are available in Amman but can be expensive. Jordan has significant humanitarian mental health resources due to its large refugee population — some of these (UNHCR, IRC, IMC) also serve vulnerable expats. International SOS and embassy wellness programmes support diplomatic and NGO communities.
Crisis Lines
National Family Security Programme Hotline
110
Languages: Arabic
Available: 24/7
FreeMinistry of Health Mental Health Hotline
111
Languages: Arabic
Available: Daily 8am–8pm
FreeJordan Hospital Psychiatry Department
+962 6 5607005
Languages: Arabic and English
Available: 24/7 emergency
Caritas Jordan Counselling
+962 6 5928024
Languages: Arabic, English
Available: Weekdays 8am–4pm
Accessing Therapy
Through public insurance: Public mental health services (Al-Rashid Psychiatric Hospital, Government Health Clinics) are available but severely under-resourced and primarily Arabic-language. Access for non-Arabic speakers is very limited in the public system.
Waiting times: Private psychiatrists: 1–2 weeks for initial appointment. Psychologists: 1–3 weeks. Government facilities: significant waiting times (weeks to months). International community resources (UN Wellness Officers, embassy health units): vary by organisation.
- - Online therapy platforms (BetterHelp, Talkspace) are used by many English-speaking expats in Jordan.
- - The American Women's Association of Jordan sometimes maintains a counsellor referral list.
- - IMC (International Medical Corps) Jordan provides mental health services — primarily for refugees but some capacity for vulnerable individuals.
- - The International Community offers informal peer support networks — ask within your organisation.
- - Embassy health officers (US Embassy, UK Embassy, EU institutions) often have referral lists for English-speaking therapists.
Online Therapy
Insurance covered: No / partially
Most private Jordanian health insurance plans do not cover online therapy platforms. Some international insurance plans (AXA Expatriate, BUPA Global) include mental health benefits — check your policy. BetterHelp and Talkspace are popular self-pay options for English-speaking expats.
Expat-Specific Challenges
- -Cultural isolation: Jordanian culture is warm but social circles can be slow to form for non-Arabic speakers. Expat communities are active but can feel transient.
- -Context stress: Living in a country with large refugee populations, regional conflict news, and visible poverty can create secondary trauma — especially for humanitarian workers.
- -Humanitarian worker burnout: Jordan hosts one of the world's largest concentrations of NGO and UN workers. "Compassion fatigue" and burnout are real and often under-addressed.
- -Ramadan adjustment: For non-Muslims, the dramatic social shift during Ramadan (including disrupted sleep schedules from late-night socialising) can be disorienting.
- -Limited work-life separation: The expat and NGO community in Amman is small and social circles often overlap with work — creating professional boundary challenges.
- -Heat isolation: Extreme summer heat (40°C+) limits outdoor activity and can contribute to cabin fever and low mood.
- -Partner/family adjustment: For trailing partners without employment, Amman offers limited ready-made social structure outside the expat bubble.
Seek English-speaking therapists through your employer, embassy, or InterNations Amman network. The American Centre at the US Embassy occasionally hosts mental health awareness events. Headspace and Calm apps are widely used by the expat community for self-management. If you are in crisis, go directly to Jordan Hospital or The Specialty Hospital emergency department — both have psychiatric staff.