Reviewed byTimur Abdrakhmanov, MDPsychotherapist · updated 11.11.2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F43.0
- Who provides it
- A psychotherapist or clinical psychologist trained in crisis counseling; a psychiatrist joins if there are signs of an acute disorder
- Format
- An in-person session in Almaty, video or phone; when needed, a joint session with the close people who are providing support
- Duration
- Each session lasts 50–90 minutes; a crisis course is usually 1–6 sessions over 2–6 weeks, followed by a decision about further therapy
- Confidentiality
- Medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”; the exception is a direct threat to life, when safety comes first
- When it is urgent
- For suicidal thoughts, intent or a plan, aggression or confusion, call 112 or 103 right away; children and young people can call the 150 helpline
- Outcome
- Stabilization, restored sleep and basic daily activities, a safety plan, and a clear sense of whether further psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment is needed
What to know
If you or someone close to you is having thoughts of suicide, intends to self-harm or faces a threat to life right now, stop and call 112. Children, teenagers and young people can reach the 150 helpline around the clock. Crisis psychological support does not replace emergency services. It begins once the immediate danger has passed but the person still cannot recover from what happened.
In my Almaty practice, crises take many forms. A woman whose husband was killed in a crash on the Eastern Bypass. A student expelled in the middle of the semester who is afraid to tell his parents back in the region. A family that lived through a night when their house shook. An IT specialist laid off along with his entire department. They have one thing in common: their familiar world collapsed in a single day. The crisis psychologist’s task is not to analyze the past but to help the person get through the coming days and weeks more safely.
When You Need Crisis Support
- several days have passed since the shock, yet you can’t sleep, eat or think about anything else
- what happened keeps coming back as if it were happening now, and you flinch at sounds
- everything feels unreal, as if you were watching your life from the outside
- bursts of anger, crying or complete numbness alternate for no apparent reason
- you can’t get back to work, studies or caring for your children
- you have started thinking there is no point in living or that everyone would be better off without you
- you have started drinking more or taking sedatives without a prescription to dull how you feel
If life is at risk — loss of consciousness, seizures, hallucinations, overdose, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112. Helpline for children and young people: 150.
What Happens to the Mind in a Crisis
An acute stress reaction is a normal response of the mind to an abnormal event. In the first hours and days, people may experience numbness, confusion, narrowed attention, anxiety and physical symptoms such as a racing heart, trembling and nausea. ICD-10 describes this as acute stress reaction (F43.0), and in most people it resolves within a few days. If symptoms last longer or get worse, a doctor assesses whether an adjustment disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is developing.
How a person gets through a crisis depends on the support around them. In a big city, that support is often thinner than it seems: family lives in another city, friends are busy with work, and you don’t know your neighbors in the apartment complex by name. Students from the regions who came to study in Almaty and young professionals are especially vulnerable: they often keep their troubles to themselves so as not to worry their families. Additional risk factors include alcohol, insomnia, financial debt and previous episodes of depression.
How Crisis Support Works
When you contact us, the administrator asks a few safety questions and, if there is no immediate threat, schedules a session with a psychotherapist within 24–72 hours, in person or by video. At the first session, the specialist listens, helps you express your feelings, assesses the risk of self-harm and works out a plan for the next few days with you: who will be with you, how to sleep, what to eat, whom to call if things get worse. Further sessions help you return to work and your usual routine.
Crisis psychological support does not replace emergency care. If there are suicidal thoughts with a plan or intent, if the person has already harmed themselves, or if hallucinations, confusion or aggression appear, call 112 or 103. If it concerns a child or teenager, also call 150. A psychologist does not prescribe medication: severe insomnia, panic or a suspected psychotic state require an assessment by a psychiatrist, sometimes hospitalization.
How we help
Psychological First Aid
An approach described in WHO guidance: the specialist ensures safety, listens without pressure, helps meet basic needs and helps you connect with loved ones. There is no need to recount the traumatic details at once; that can do harm. The goal of the first session is for you to feel some footing and know what to do in the next hours and days.
Safety Plan
A concrete one-page document: warning signs, your own ways of coping, people you can call, the numbers 112, 103 and 150, and how to remove dangerous objects and medications from reach. The plan is drawn up together with you and, with your consent, with your loved ones. International guidelines recommend this approach when there is a risk of self-harm, and it helps people get through acute moments.
Stabilization and Grounding Techniques
When memories or panic come flooding in, simple techniques help: breathing with a longer exhale, focusing on body sensations, and the “5-4-3-2-1” senses exercise. The psychotherapist teaches them during the session so you can use them on your own at night, on the metro or behind the wheel. This is not trauma treatment but a way to regain control in the moment.
Grief and Loss Support
After the death of a loved one, crisis support helps you get through the first weeks: practical arrangements, the funeral, memorial gatherings and conversations with children. We explain that grief is a natural process, not an illness, while watching for signs of prolonged grief or depression. If they appear, we suggest continuing with psychotherapy or a psychiatric consultation.
How treatment works
- 01Call or WhatsAppThe administrator and the doctor on duty clarify the situation and tell you what to do right now.
- 02Examination or consultationThe doctor visits your home, sees you at the clinic or joins by video.
- 03Treatment planWe choose the format — at home, inpatient, psychotherapy or rehab — with a clear price.
- 04Ongoing supportYour doctor and psychotherapist stay in touch: follow-ups, family support and relapse prevention.
Myths and facts
MythYou need to tell everything in detail as soon as possible to get it out
FactBeing pushed to retell a trauma in detail during the first days can make symptoms worse. A specialist helps you talk at a pace that suits you and first strengthens your sense of safety.
MythIt’s better not to ask about suicide so as not to put the idea in someone’s head
FactAsking directly about thoughts of death does not increase the risk and often brings relief. If a loved one talks about wanting to die, take it seriously and call 112 or the 150 helpline.
MythA strong person should cope alone
FactAcute stress reactions occur in people of every temperament. Seeking help is a way to recover faster, not a sign of weakness. The earlier support comes, the easier it is to get through a crisis.
Prices: Crisis psychological support
| Crisis psychological support | 15 000 ₸ |
| Psychotherapist session (50 min) | 14 990 ₸ |
| Psychologist session (50 min) | 12 000 ₸ |
| Family session (80 min) | 25 000 ₸ |
| Phone consultation | free |
Prices are approximate: the doctor confirms the exact cost after the examination, before treatment starts.
Confidential
We do not register patients with state dispensaries or share information with employers. You do not have to give your surname; doctors arrive in unmarked cars. Medical confidentiality is protected by the Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”.
Clinic addresses
FAQ
What should I do if a loved one is talking about suicide right now?
Don’t leave them alone, remove dangerous objects and medications, and call 112. If it is a teenager or young person, also call the 150 helpline. Speak calmly, ask directly about their intentions and listen without judgment. A psychologist will step in once the danger has been dealt with.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
We aim to schedule the first session within 24–72 hours, in person in Almaty or by video. If there is no threat to life but you are struggling badly, tell the administrator, and we will try to see you sooner. If life is at risk, don’t wait for an appointment: call 112.
How many sessions are needed?
Crisis support is short-term: usually 1–6 sessions over several weeks. The goal is stabilization, not in-depth work. After the course, a Akalam specialist will decide with you whether that is enough or whether to continue with psychotherapy, for example in cases of prolonged grief or anxiety.
Can I get help after an accident or an earthquake?
Yes. After accidents, fires or noticeable tremors, many people in Almaty develop anxiety, insomnia or a fear of staying indoors. This is a common reaction, and crisis support helps you cope with it. If the fear lasts more than a month or interferes with your life, longer-term therapy makes sense.
Do I need sedatives?
Psychologists and psychotherapists do not prescribe medication. Don’t take sedatives or use alcohol to fall asleep without consulting a doctor, as this can make your condition worse. If sleep problems, panic or anxiety make life unbearable, a psychiatrist will decide after an assessment whether medication is needed.
Can I get help for my child?
Yes, the clinic has specialists who work with children and teenagers, always with the parents involved. After a traumatic event, a child may regress, sleep poorly or be afraid of separation. If a child talks about death or harms themselves, call 112 or 150 immediately.
Sources and review
Prepared by the Akalam medical editorial team based on:
- ICD-10 and ICD-11: mental and behavioural disorders
- Clinical protocols of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan
- Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- WHO: mental health and substance use
- NICE and APA clinical guidelines
This information is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Editorial policy