Suicide Hotlines and Crisis Lines in Brunei

A helpline is a place to talk to someone when you are struggling, before or instead of a crisis. The lines on this page are answered by counsellors or trained staff, and every one of them is run by the government of Brunei. If you are not in Brunei, the worldwide list is organised by country.

What you share is kept private in almost all cases; if a counsellor believes a life is in immediate danger, they may arrange urgent help. Where a service publishes what a call costs, that is set out beside it below. Where it does not, we say so rather than guess.

TherapyRoute is a directory. We do not answer calls or messages ourselves, so please use the numbers below rather than contacting us if you need someone now.

CRISIS LINES, SUICIDE HOTLINES, AND HELPLINES IN BRUNEI

Each number below was checked in August 2026 at the Ministry of Health's own website, or at the government department that runs the service.

Notice an error or a missing service? Please tell us so we can correct it.

Emergency numbers, and what each one is for

Talian Harapan 145, the national mental health line

Talian ANAK 121, the 24-hour child helpline

Talian Kebajikan 141, the 24-hour welfare and protection line

Unit Kaunseling, JAPEM, free counselling in person

While you are waiting to be answered

If you are worried about someone else

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Emergency numbers, and what each one is for

Brunei has no single number that covers every emergency. Four separate numbers are dialled, and the Ministry of Health publishes all four on its own site.

Ambulance (EMAS): 991

Police: 993

Fire & Rescue: 995

Search & Rescue: 998

The national mental health line, 145, is also a three-digit code, but it is not one of these emergency numbers. If someone's life is in danger right now, use 991 or 993 first.

Talian Harapan 145, the national mental health line

Talian Harapan 145 is Brunei's national mental health line, run by the Ministry of Health. The ministry's Clinical and Community Psychology Services page puts it plainly: "For emotional and crisis support, as well as information about available mental health services, you may call Talian Harapan 145."

The ministry names the line as one of the five arms through which mental health services reach the population of Brunei, alongside the Mental Health Strategy Unit, the Health Promotion Centre, Clinical and Community Psychology Services, and Psychiatry Services at RIPAS Hospital. The Minister of Health's World Mental Health Day message gives the same advice in Malay: go to the nearest health clinic, or contact Talian Harapan 145.

Tel: 145

Hours: not published. No page on the Ministry of Health's website states when 145 is answered. If you call and do not get through, use the emergency numbers at the top of this page rather than waiting.

Cost: not published.

Talian ANAK 121, the 24-hour child helpline

Talian ANAK 121 is the national child helpline, run by Jabatan Pembangunan Masyarakat (JAPEM) with Telekom Brunei Berhad. It is for children in Brunei, and it says so on its own page: "Talian ANAK (Anak Negara Aset Kitani) 121 adalah talian bantuan kanak-kanak bebas tol yang beroperasi bagi kegunaan kanak-kanak di Negara Brunei Darussalam", a toll-free child helpline operating for the use of children in Brunei Darussalam.

JAPEM describes it as a confidential call service for children who may be in difficulty and need care and protection: from abuse by a parent or guardian, drug misuse, bullying, suicidal feelings, or difficulties within the family. The department says the line is staffed by trained counsellors with links to the relevant emergency services. It opened on 1 October 2019.

On this page's own wording, this is the one line in Brunei that names suicidal feelings directly. If you are under 18 and struggling, this line is for you.

Tel: 121

Hours: 24 hours, in JAPEM's own words: "Talian 'ANAK 121' beroperasi 24 jam."

Cost: toll-free, "bebas tol" in the line's own description.

Talian Kebajikan 141, the 24-hour welfare and protection line

Talian Kebajikan 141 is JAPEM's national social welfare helpline, open since 31 July 2006. It is a welfare and protection line rather than a mental health line, and it is here because it answers at any hour and covers the situations that often sit behind a crisis.

JAPEM states its purpose as better and more efficient service and assistance to clients in difficulty, particularly in cases of abuse, neglect, protection, exploitation, advisory support and family problems. Brunei publishes no separate domestic violence line, so for abuse or violence at home this is the number that answers.

Tel: 141

Hours: 24 hours, in JAPEM's own words: "Talian 'Kebajikan 141' beroperasi 24 jam."

Cost: not published.

Unit Kaunseling, JAPEM, free counselling in person

This is not a crisis line. Unit Kaunseling is JAPEM's counselling unit, and it is on this page because it is the one government counselling service in Brunei with a published direct number, for readers who want an appointment rather than a hotline.

JAPEM says the unit provides professional counselling "percuma", free of charge, to JAPEM clients and to members of the public who need support. The issues named on its page include social and emotional problems, adolescents who are difficult to manage, neglect and exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.

Individual, couple, family and group counselling are offered, by referral or walk-in, beginning with an intake session with the counsellor on duty. Bring your original identity card, or a birth certificate if you do not have one. District branches are listed for Tutong, Belait and Temburong.

Tel: 2333141

Hours: not published. This is an office service, not a round-the-clock line.

Cost: free of charge, "percuma" in JAPEM's own words.

While you are waiting to be answered

A line that is open can still be busy, and the hours of the national line are not published. If you are waiting, try to stay with someone you trust, or ask someone to sit with you until the call connects.

If you have anything near you that you could use to harm yourself, put it somewhere harder to reach, or ask someone else to hold it for you. Distance and time both help.

If waiting is not possible, dial 991 or 993, or go to a hospital emergency department. You do not need an appointment and you do not need to explain yourself well.

If you are worried about someone else

Ask them directly. Asking someone whether they are thinking of suicide does not put the idea there, and it often comes as a relief to be asked plainly.

Listen more than you advise. You do not need the right words, and you are not expected to fix anything.

If they are willing, offer to sit with them while they call one of the numbers above, or to make the call together. If a child tells you they are struggling, 121 answers at any hour. If they are in immediate danger, treat it as you would any medical emergency.

Supporting someone through this is heavy, and it is reasonable to want support of your own. The same lines are open to you.

For services in other countries, see the list of helplines and suicide hotlines worldwide.

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