EPFL mental health (Psy consultation + Social consultation)
What this page is for
How to book campus psychotherapeutic consultation (CHUV psychiatrists / psychologists at EPFL) and how it differs from Social consultation. Emergencies stay on Health & emergencies.
Psychotherapeutic consultation (CHUV @ EPFL)
Who: CMS, Bachelor, Master students and PhD students.
What: Temporary medical support for mental health problems, whether or not they are linked to studies. EPFL lists: brief medical follow-up; care according to a crisis intervention model; appropriate referral to the care network.
Where / languages: consultations at EPFL, by appointment only; waiting room in EPFL Building BP (Study management). Study management names French and English; the CHUV page for this consultation says sessions can be in French, English, German or Italian, with an FMH psychiatrist-psychotherapist or an FSP clinical psychologist-psychotherapist. Everyone is bound by professional / medical secrecy.
Hours / format (Trust Point card): Monday to Friday 8:00 to 18:00; on site (or videoconferencing); listed as "BP 1344 or CHUV". Ask about the room or a video session when you book.
How to book: email consult.psy-epfl@chuv.ch. EPFL: response every working day of the year. Trust Point adds: give a telephone number; they call you back to discuss the best way to help (email contact 5/7 every working day of the year).
Cost (two official wordings):
- EPFL Study management: the first consultation is covered by EPFL; subsequent consultations cost approximately 200 CHF. Check coverage and reimbursement against your deductible (Swiss insurance) or the country of your European / non-European health insurance.
- Trust Point card: first contact and first consultation are free of charge; subsequent consultations are covered by basic health insurance.
How the bill works (CHUV Psychiatry billing page, linked from the CHUV page for this consultation): CHUV bills outpatient care directly to your health insurer under LAMal. With Swiss basic insurance you pay your franchise (deductible) plus a 10% co-payment (quote-part) on the bill, with the co-payment capped at CHF 700 a year for an adult. Read together, the two EPFL wordings match: later sessions (about CHF 200 each) are billed to basic insurance, and what you pay yourself depends on your franchise and co-payment.
- Family-doctor or health-network insurance model: except in an emergency, you first need your GP's approval, usually a referral voucher sent to the insurer.
- No insurance, or an insurer CHUV has no agreement with: CHUV asks for a CHF 200 deposit. If unsure about your cover (for example European or other foreign insurance), email dp.gap-ambulatoire@chuv.ch.
- Missed appointments not cancelled 24 hours ahead cost CHF 50, paid by you (insurers do not refund it).
- Phone calls of more than 5 minutes with your therapist are billed in 5-minute slots, like a consultation.
Sources: EPFL, Psychotherapeutic consultation · FR Consultation psychothérapeutique · Trust Point, Psychotherapeutic Consultation · CHUV, Consultation psychothérapeutique pour étudiants EPFL · CHUV Psychiatry, Facturation
Social consultation (not the same service)
Solution-oriented, free, neutral, confidential support for students and PhD students (stress, admin, financial problems and scholarships, studying with health issues, disability / chronic-illness study arrangements, referrals, and more). Staff, teachers and student associations can also contact it about a student they worry about. French or English; Lausanne campus or online.
- Email: consultation.sociale@epfl.ch
- Emails checked every business day; response within 48 hours.
Money problems? See Money help for students.
Legal questions? See Free and low-cost legal advice: EPFL services, UNIL, CSP Vaud and the Vaud bar's CHF 50 consultations.
Short block also on GP & pharmacy → Social consultation · live page EPFL, Social consultation
Use Social consultation for non-emergency admin / study / psychosocial navigation. Use Psy consultation for medical psychotherapeutic support. Neither replaces 144 / campus SOS.
Crisis numbers
For the full emergency page, see Health & emergencies. The Psy and Social pages themselves list (same figures already used elsewhere in the kit):
- Vital emergency on campus: EPFL landline 115; mobile 021 693 3000; Campus app SOS. Off campus: 144.
- Psychological distress 24/7: on-call physicians line 0848 133 133 (assessment / redirection by need and location).
- Social consultation page also lists free confidential listening: 143 (La Main Tendue, www.143.ch); 147 (Pro Juventute); Ontécoute chat www.ontecoute.ch (FR).
Help with alcohol, cannabis or tobacco use: see Alcohol, cannabis and tobacco rules in Vaud.