If you need help right now
You don't have to be in danger to call. You don't have to know what to say. The people on the other end of these lines have heard everything, and they want to talk to you.
If you or someone with you is in immediate physical danger, call emergency services first:
- Police — 10111 (from any phone)
- Medical emergency — 10177 (or 112 from a mobile)
- Netcare 911 — 082 911
- ER24 — 084 124
South Africa
Suicidal thoughts, crisis, urgent emotional support
SADAG Suicide Crisis Line — call 0800 567 567 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Free from any phone in South Africa.
SMS — text 31393 and SADAG will call you back.
Depression, anxiety, or general mental health support
SADAG Mental Health Line — call 011 234 4837 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Trained counsellors who can listen and refer you to local support.
Cipla 24-hour Mental Health Helpline — call 0800 456 789 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Free.
Lifeline South Africa — call 0861 322 322 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Specific support lines
Childline (for anyone under 18) — call 116 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Free, confidential.
Gender-Based Violence Command Centre — call 0800 428 428 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also: SMS help to 31531, or dial 1207867# for a "please call me."
Substance Abuse Helpline — call 0800 12 13 14, or SMS 32312 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Akeso Psychiatric Crisis Line — call 0861 435 787 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For psychiatric crisis and referral to inpatient care.
International
If you're outside South Africa, the directories below will route you to the right number for where you are.
Find a Helpline (worldwide directory) — findahelpline.com Pick your country, pick what you're going through, and get verified helpline numbers.
Befrienders Worldwide — befrienders.org Volunteer emotional support in 32 countries.
Country-specific lines
- United States — 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Or text 741741 (Crisis Text Line, text HOME).
- United Kingdom & Ireland — Samaritans, 116 123. Also email jo@samaritans.org.
- Canada — 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline.
- Australia — Lifeline, 13 11 14.
A note on calling
Most people who pick up the phone for the first time say something like "I don't know if this is bad enough" or "I don't want to waste their time." It is bad enough. You won't waste their time. That's literally why they answer.
You don't need to know what you want from the call before you make it. You don't need to be in active crisis. You can call because you're not sure if you should be calling.
If phoning feels too hard, try SMS 31393 to SADAG — they will call you back, or you can text the conversation.
If you're worried about someone else
You can call SADAG (0800 567 567) on behalf of a friend or family member. Trained counsellors can advise you on what to say, how to respond, and how to get them to professional help. You don't need their permission to ask for advice.
What helps when someone tells you they're struggling:
- Listen without trying to fix it. Don't argue with how they feel.
- Take any mention of suicide seriously — even when it sounds offhand.
- Ask directly: "Are you thinking about ending your life?" Asking the question does not plant the idea. It tells them you can handle hearing the answer.
- Don't promise to keep it secret. Help them get to someone who can support them.
- Stay with them, or stay on the phone with them, until they are with another trusted person or professional.
About this page
The numbers on this page are verified against the official websites of SADAG, the Department of Health, and the South African government as of April 2026. If you call a number on this page and it isn't working, please let us know at info@psychoanalyzeme.co.za so we can update it.
Psychoanalyzeme provides self-screening tools for personal reflection. We are not a clinical service and we cannot provide counselling, intervention, or referrals beyond what is on this page. The helplines above can.