Suicide Hotlines and Crisis Lines in Ghana

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 trained volunteers or police staff, depending on the service. If you are not in Ghana, 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. What each service costs is set out beside it below, where the service publishes it.

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 GHANA

Each number below was checked in August 2026 at the operating organisation's own website, or at the government or regulator page that stands behind 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

Yonkodo Foundation helpline, 0558-288-288

DOVVSU, if you are in danger from another 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

Ghana's telecommunications regulator, the National Communications Authority, publishes the country's emergency codes and marks which ones actually operate. These are the ones its numbering plan lists as operational.

Emergency SOS: 112

The general emergency number. The National Ambulance Service also publishes it on its own contact page, printed as "CALL 112".

Police: 191

Fire Service: 192

Ambulance: 193

One warning is worth giving plainly. The regulator's plan marks 999 and 190 as not operational in Ghana, and the child-help short code often printed in older lists is marked not operational too. Dialling 999 out of habit will not reach help; 112 will.

Yonkodo Foundation helpline, 0558-288-288

The Yonkodo Foundation runs a non-profit emotional support and suicide prevention helpline. It is answered by trained volunteers rather than clinicians. In the Foundation's own words, the person who answers is "a trained volunteer who has completed our compassionate listening programme. They are not therapists, but they are caring, non-judgmental people who are there purely to listen and support you."

You do not have to be in crisis to call. The Foundation says so itself: "You do not need to be in a crisis to call. Whether you are feeling lonely, overwhelmed, anxious, or just need someone to talk to - we are here."

On privacy, the Foundation states: "Yes. Everything you share is strictly confidential. We will never share your information with anyone. The only exception is if there is an immediate risk to your life, where we may need to involve emergency services."

Tel: 0558-288-288, described by the Foundation as "Free call · Any network in Ghana".

WhatsApp: +233 558 288 288

Email: support@yonkodo.org. Ghanaians abroad are directed to email diaspora@yonkodo.org, as calls are taken from within Ghana only.

Hours: not published. The site says someone is ready to listen, and also advises that if you cannot reach the line by phone you should try WhatsApp or email. It does not claim to answer at all hours, so do not rely on it as your only route at night.

Cost: in the Foundation's own words, "Yes - completely free. There is no charge for calling or messaging us. Yonkodo Foundation is a nonprofit and our helpline is funded through donations so you never pay a cedi."

Languages: the Foundation says "We currently support English and Twi. We are working to expand to other Ghanaian languages."

DOVVSU, if you are in danger from another person

The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit is the specialist unit of the Ghana Police Service for people experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Its own page describes it as "a one-stop centre of services for victims of abuse and others."

Be clear about its scope before you call. This is a police line for reporting abuse and reaching protection, not a counselling or suicide line. If you are in distress but not in danger from another person, the Yonkodo helpline above is the better first call.

Tel: 055-100-0900, presented by the police as the DOVVSU helpline for the whole country.

Hours: not published.

Cost: not published.

While you are waiting to be answered

A helpline that is open can still be busy, and the Yonkodo line does not publish its hours. 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 112, 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 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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