Suicide Hotlines and Crisis Lines in India
❝Indian crisis lines and suicide hotlines offer you the lifeline you need when you need it most. Reaching out is a step worth taking.❞
IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS, PLEASE READ THIS FIRST. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, get help now. Dial 112, India's unified emergency number, for police, fire or ambulance. Whether calls to 112 are free is not published on the government pages we checked. You can also go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital. For readers outside India, there is a worldwide list of emergency numbers and a list of helplines and suicide hotlines worldwide.
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, psychologists or trained volunteers, depending on the service. If you are not in India, 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. Many of these lines are toll-free or free, several publish no cost at all, and iCall charges standard call rates even though its counselling itself is free.
The national lines come first, then the city and state centres. Hours are given for every entry, because most of the local centres answer for only part of the day.
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 INDIA
Each number below was checked in September 2026 at the operating organisation's own website, or at an official Indian government page.
Notice an error or a missing service? Please tell us so we can correct it.
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Find Your TherapistTele-MANAS, 14416, the national mental health helpline
KIRAN, 1800-599-0019, mental health rehabilitation
Vandrevala Foundation Helpline
iCall, from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Mpower, a 24-hour line that is not a crisis line
DISHA 1056, Kerala and Lakshadweep
SA-MUDRA Yuva Helpline, Bengaluru
Life Bridge, formerly listed here as Thanal, Kozhikode
While you are waiting to be answered
If you are worried about someone else
112, India's emergency number
India runs one unified emergency number, 112, for police, fire and ambulance together. The Ministry of Home Affairs describes it as "a nationwide, unified emergency response system with a single emergency number '112', for reporting and addressing all kinds of emergencies from across the country." A Press Information Bureau release confirms the same number combines "Police, Fire, Health and other helplines through an Emergency Response Centre in the State."
Tel: 112
Cost: not published on the government pages we checked.
Tele-MANAS, 14416, the national mental health helpline
Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) is the Government of India's national tele-mental-health programme, run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is organised in two tiers: State Tele-MANAS cells of trained counsellors and mental health specialists answer first, and calls that need more can be escalated to a clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, psychiatric nurse or psychiatrist, by audio or video, or referred on for in-person care through the District Mental Health Programme.
Calling connects you to an automated call-back: a trained counsellor calls you back and takes it from there.
Tel: 14416
Tel: 1-800 891 4416 (an alternative toll-free number, printed on the same page)
Cost: toll-free, in the ministry's own words: "Dial the Toll-Free numbers below to get in touch with our Counsellor."
Hours: not stated in so many words on the pages we checked. Tele-MANAS is widely reported elsewhere as a round-the-clock service; we are printing the numbers as always-dialable per the ministry's own page, without asserting a specific closing time it does not itself state.
KIRAN, 1800-599-0019, mental health rehabilitation
KIRAN is a toll-free mental health rehabilitation helpline run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The government's own description: it offers "early screening, first-aid, psychological support, distress management, mental wellbeing, promoting positive behaviours, psychological crisis management" for people facing anxiety, OCD, suicidal thoughts, depression, panic attacks, adjustment disorders, PTSD or substance use. Callers dial the number from anywhere in India, choose a language, then select their state or union territory to be connected to their local helpline centre.
Tel: 1800-599-0019
Hours: "operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week," in the government's own words.
Cost: toll-free.
Languages: Hindi, Assamese, Tamil, Marathi, Odia, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Bengali, Urdu and English.
Vandrevala Foundation Helpline
The Vandrevala Foundation has run a free mental health helpline since 2009 "for anyone feeling anxious, depressed, stressed, lonely, suicidal or simply struggling to cope." In its own words, "You can call or WhatsApp from anywhere in India at any hour of the day or night."
Tel: +91 9999 666 555
WhatsApp: +91 9999 666 555
Hours: "Operate 24 X 7 X 365."
Cost: free.
Jeevan Aastha Helpline
Jeevan Aastha is a telephonic counselling helpline for suicide prevention and mental health care, run by Gandhinagar Police in Gujarat under the Suraksha Setu Project. The police force's own page describes a three-layered service: telephonic counselling, face-to-face counselling with a senior counsellor, and expert intervention by psychiatrists or psychologists where needed. It addresses "suicidal thoughts, addiction, depression, stress, anxiety, phobia, low self-esteem, academic difficulties, career conflicts, relationship issues."
Although it is run by a Gujarat police force, the service is not limited to Gujarat: the police force's own page states plainly that "Access of this service is across the nation."
Tel: 1800 233 3330
Hours: "24/7, 365 days availability of services."
Cost: toll-free.
iCall, from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences
iCall is a psychosocial helpline run by the School of Human Ecology at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), offering counselling by phone, email and chat to anyone in emotional or psychological distress. In its own words: "Geographical locations and distances are not a deterrent for you to call us." iCall does not offer face-to-face counselling and does not call back except in an active crisis. It follows a policy of two-way anonymity: "we do not ask for your name or personal details and we do not disclose our names either."
Tel: 9152987821
Email: icall@tiss.edu
Hours: "Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm," per iCall's own current site.
Cost: counselling itself is free, but iCall's own words are direct about the call charge: "you will have to pay the call charges as per your telecom provider."
Languages: Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Konkani.
Mann Talks
Mann Talks runs a tele-counselling helpline answered by qualified mental health professionals. In its own words, it "is a psycho-social tele-counselling service that is absolutely free of cost," and "anyone can directly place a call on 8686 139139 without an appointment." The organisation adds that "all conversations will be confidential, and your privacy will be respected at all times." Mann Talks does not state on the pages we checked whether the line covers the whole country.
Tel: 8686 139139
Email: counselling@manntalks.org
Hours: "open from 9am to 8pm, every day i.e. Monday-Sunday."
Cost: "absolutely free of cost," in the organisation's own words.
Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati.
Mpower, a 24-hour line that is not a crisis line
Mpower runs a toll-free helpline with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Government of Maharashtra, answered by qualified psychologists at any hour. It is worth knowing what it is and what it is not. Mpower's own FAQ says plainly: "this is not a crisis helpline but our trained therapists will be able to guide you to the nearest hospital in case you need emergency help." So it is a good number for talking something through at three in the morning, and the lines above are the ones to call if you are in danger now. The helpline is for callers aged 18 and over.
Tel: 1800 120 820050
Hours: "Our therapists are available to take calls 24 x 7."
Cost: "this is a free service and you can contact us via our toll-free number."
The city and state centres below are listed with the round-the-clock ones first. All of them are named by the organisation that answers, and all of their numbers were read on that organisation's own page.
AASRA, Mumbai
AASRA describes itself as "a crisis intervention centre for the lonely, distressed and suicidal," aiming "to help prevent and manage mental illness by providing voluntary, professional and essentially confidential care and support to the depressed & the suicidal." Its volunteers train for a minimum of six months before answering calls, and the organisation says caller identity "is never revealed and none of our calls are recorded or shared." AASRA is based in Navi Mumbai; its own page does not describe the line as national.
Tel: 022 2754 6669
Hours: "24 hours, 7 days a week."
Cost: free.
Languages: English, Hindi.
SNEHA, Chennai
SNEHA is a suicide-prevention organisation based in Chennai. On its own page: "We offer unconditional emotional support to anyone who could be feeling distressed, depressed or suicidal. No matter what situation you are in, or what choices you have made in your life; if something is bothering you, or weighing you down, you can talk to us about it." SNEHA also welcomes visits in person, from 10am to 8pm every day of the year, with no appointment needed, and states it offers full confidentiality and allows callers to remain anonymous.
Tel: 044 2464 0050
Tel: 044 2464 0060 (a second line; SNEHA's own page does not state its hours)
Hours: "24-hours helpline," in SNEHA's own words, for the first number above.
Cost: not published on the page we checked.
1Life, Hyderabad
1Life is a non-profit crisis-support line offering "24x7 Suicide Prevention & Crisis Support" over phone, email, video or chat, for people who are feeling suicidal, having a difficult time, or worried about someone else. The organisation is based in the Hyderabad area and supports callers in Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Sindhi, Bhojpuri and Bengali.
Tel: 7893078930
Hours: "24x7 Suicide Prevention & Crisis Support."
Cost: not published on the page we checked.
DISHA 1056, Kerala and Lakshadweep
DISHA, which stands for Direct Intervention System for Health Awareness, is Kerala's round-the-clock health helpline, run jointly by the National Health Mission and the state Department of Health. It is answered by "a dedicated team of experienced doctors and professional social workers," and the state's own page says it is there for "adolescents, vulnerable individuals, victims of abuse, those struggling with mental health issues, or anyone needing basic health advice." It covers Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. From elsewhere in India, use one of the national numbers above.
Tel: 1056 (toll-free within Kerala)
Tel: 0471-2552056
Hours: "Operating round the clock."
Cost: "The service is completely free."
Saath, Ahmedabad
Saath is a suicide-prevention centre in Ahmedabad. In its own words, its "primary concern is prevention of suicide. It deals with people who are suicidal and are caught in the conflict of will to leave and urge to die." You can reach it by telephone, in person, by letter or by email.
Tel: +91 79 26305544
Hours: "1.00 pm to 7.00 pm."
Cost: not published on the pages we checked.
SAHAI, Bengaluru
SAHAI is the suicide-prevention helpline of the Medico-Pastoral Association in Bengaluru, started in 2002 with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and the Rotary Club Bangalore East. It is answered by trained volunteers and counsellors working in shifts through the day.
Tel: 080-25497777
Hours: "10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (Closed on Public Holidays)."
Cost: not published on the page we checked.
Languages: Hindi, English, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali.
Arpita Foundation, Bengaluru
The Arpita Foundation is a non-profit in Bengaluru whose helpline addresses "feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness," and is staffed by counsellors and volunteers the Foundation describes as "certified Gate Keepers in Suicide Prevention." It works with Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, The Live Love Laugh Foundation and the Vandrevala Foundation on referrals for more complex situations.
Tel: +91 80 23655557
Tel: +91 80 23656667
Hours: "(9am to 9pm) (Mon to Sun)" beside the helpline numbers. The same page carries a separate office timetable with narrower hours, so the line may not answer for the whole window.
Cost: not published on the page we checked.
SA-MUDRA Yuva Helpline, Bengaluru
The Yuva Helpline is run by the SA-MUDRA Foundation in Bengaluru and is aimed at younger callers. In its own words it is "a Call Response Centre project, operated by trained counsellors, qualified youth advisors, and academic and career guides," offering "free telephonic counselling, personal meeting, yoga, meditation, psycho-therapy and family participation." The Foundation lists what callers bring to it, including exam and parental pressure, relationships, addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Tel: 9880 396 331
Hours: "9:00am to 6:00pm."
Cost: free, in the Foundation's own words.
Sumaitri, New Delhi
Sumaitri describes itself as "a Delhi based voluntary organization, which is running a crisis intervention center for people who are depressed, distressed or may be feeling suicidal." It has been open since September 1988, and says its volunteers "keep SUMAITRI open all days of the week, 365 days of the year with NO HOLIDAYS." Callers can telephone, write, or visit the centre in Hauz Khas Village.
Tel: 011-46018404
Tel: +91-9315767849
Email: feelingsuicidal@sumaitri.net
Hours: "12:30 PM to 5:00 PM 7 Days a Week."
Cost: free. Sumaitri says the anonymity of both callers and volunteers is maintained.
Roshini Helpline, Hyderabad
The Roshini Helpline has run in Hyderabad since 1997. In the Trust's own words it "extends free, confidential and unconditional emotional support to the depressed and the suicidal," with "around 65 volunteers reaching out to the needy." It is a helpline, separate from the Trust's by-appointment counselling centre.
Tel: +91 8142020033
Tel: +91 8142020044
Email: roshnihelp@gmail.com
Hours: "between 11 am and 9 pm, all days of the week."
Cost: free, in the Trust's own words.
Kashmir Lifeline
Kashmir Lifeline is a project of the Healing Minds Foundation, working in the Kashmir valley since 2010. Its own page says the toll-free helpline "offers confidential, anonymous, safe and judgement-free support five days a week, from Sunday to Thursday," answered by "professional and trained counsellors, clinical psychologists and educationists." The Foundation notes that all its care providers are Kashmiri. It also runs a clinic in Srinagar.
Tel: 1800 180 70 20
Hours: "Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 5pm."
Cost: toll-free. The service adds that it cannot see your number when you call.
Maithri, Kochi
Maithri is a befriending centre in Kochi. It describes what it does like this: "Befriending takes place when a suicidal person interacts with a Volunteer, through visits, telephone, letters or e-mail. During Befriending, Callers get a chance to ventilate their feelings to the Volunteer who will give them undivided attention." It adds that "Callers are offered simple emotional support and remain free to make their own decisions," and that nobody who contacts the centre is traced afterwards. You can also visit the centre at Kalamassery during its opening hours.
Tel: 0484 2540530
Hours: "10 AM to 7 PM, Sunday to Saturday."
Cost: no call cost is published. Maithri states that callers "are not required to give Volunteers either contributions or gratitude."
Pratheeksha, North Paravur
Pratheeksha is a befriending centre at North Paravur in Ernakulam district, Kerala, working, in its own words, on "befriending suicidal, lonely and distressed minds since 2002." It asks people to contact it in person or by telephone.
Tel: 0484 2448830
Hours: "10am to 6pm x 365 Days."
Cost: not published on the page we checked.
Life Bridge, formerly listed here as Thanal, Kozhikode
Life Bridge is a suicide-prevention centre in Kozhikode, formed in 2001 by the Calicut chapter of the Indian Medical Association, and an affiliated member of Befrienders India. On its own page: "We value giving a person the opportunity to explore feelings which can cause distress, the importance of being listened to, in confidence, anonymously, without prejudice." People can visit, telephone or write. This is the centre this page used to list under the name Thanal, and it still answers on the same number.
Tel: 0495 2760000
Hours: "from 10 am to 6 pm 7 days a week."
Cost: not published on the pages we checked.
Lifeline Foundation, Kolkata
The Lifeline Foundation has worked in Kolkata since 1996. In its own words it is "a Kolkata, West Bengal based not-for-profit organisation" offering "free, anonymous and non-judgemental emotional support to individuals who may be depressed, distressed or suicidal." Its telephone helplines "operate every day of the year, staffed by trained volunteers."
Tel: +91 9163940404
Tel: +91 9088030303
Hours: "10 AM to 12 AM (Midnight), Every Day, All Year Round."
Cost: free, in the Foundation's own words.
Samaritans Mumbai
Samaritans Mumbai describes itself as "a helpline providing emotional support for those who are stressed, distressed, depressed, or suicidal." It says it guarantees "complete anonymity and confidentiality" between the caller and the organisation. Volunteers also meet people face to face at the centre, and the organisation asks that you call the helpline first to arrange it.
Tel: +91 84229 84528
Tel: +91 84229 84529
Tel: +91 84229 84530
Hours: "between 5 PM and 8 PM (all days)."
Cost: not published for the helpline.
Other national support lines
Two further government helplines are worth knowing about, even though this page is about suicide and crisis support specifically.
Women Helpline, 181 (Ministry of Women and Child Development) is a national, toll-free, 24-hour line for women in distress or facing violence, or anyone calling on a woman's behalf. In an emergency, the operator connects the caller to 112 for police, fire or ambulance.
Tel: 181
CHILDLINE, 1098 (CHILDLINE India Foundation) is a national, toll-free, free emergency phone service for children, available "24 hours a day, 365 days a year." Any child, or an adult acting on a child's behalf, can call to report abuse or any threat to a child's safety.
Tel: 1098
While you are waiting to be answered
A line that is open can still be busy, and several of the local centres above answer for only part of the day. 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. KIRAN, the Vandrevala Foundation Helpline and Jeevan Aastha each state in their own words that they answer around the clock. Tele-MANAS does not publish its hours on its own pages, so we cannot tell you whether it answers at night. 1Life says plainly that it takes calls from people worried about someone else.
For services in other countries, see the list of helplines and suicide hotlines worldwide.
Important: TherapyRoute does not provide medical advice. All content is for informational purposes and cannot replace consulting a healthcare professional. If you face an emergency, please contact a local emergency service. For immediate emotional support, consider contacting a local helpline.
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