Suicide Hotlines and Crisis Lines in South Africa
❝Crisis lines and suicide hotlines in South Africa offer you the lifeline you need when you need it most. Reach for the phone, make the call, you have nothing to lose.❞
Helplines, crisis lines, and suicide hotlines let you reach out whenever you need and offer a chance to discuss things you might not be ready to share face-to-face.
They are a great way to be heard and get sound advice. Many are open 24/7 and free to call, though some charge the price of a normal call. Each entry below notes what we could confirm from the service's own information.
CRISIS LINES, SUICIDE HOTLINES, AND HELPLINES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Notice an error or a missing service? Please let us know ( click here ); you could be saving someone's life.
Therapy should be personal. Therapists listed on TherapyRoute are qualified, independent, and free to answer to you – no scripts, algorithms, or company policies.
Find Your TherapistAdcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline
Cipla 24hr Mental Health Helpline
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) Suicide Prevention Line
South Africa Suicide Crisis Helpline
In an emergency
If someone's life is in immediate danger, call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone on any network. For police, call 10111.
Ambulance: 10177
From a mobile: 112
Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline
Adcock Ingram Depression and Anxiety Helpline, run by SADAG, offers emotional support to people in South Africa who are in distress or at risk of suicide. The line is toll-free and open 8am to 8pm. Outside those hours, call the 24-hour Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0800 567 567.
Tel: 0800 70 80 90
Akeso Crisis Helpline
Akeso Crisis Helpline's 24-hour service provides assistance to anyone requiring emergency psychiatric assistance, crisis containment, or information about mental health and mental health services in South Africa. This is an 0861 shared-call number, so the call is charged at the normal rate rather than being free.
Tel: 0861 435 787
Befrienders Botshabelo
Befrienders Botshabelo offers free, confidential, and non-judgemental emotional support to anyone who experiences emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, depression, isolation, helplessness, or hopelessness.
Tel: + 27 051 532 1100
Befrienders Setshabelo
Befrienders Setshabelo offers free, confidential, and non-judgemental emotional support to anyone who experiences emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, depression, isolation, helplessness, or hopelessness.
Tel: +27 051 437 9280
Befrienders Kwa Nobuhle
Befrienders Kwa Nobuhle offers free, confidential, and non-judgemental emotional support to anyone who experiences emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, depression, isolation, helplessness, or hopelessness.
Tel: +27 041 977 3003
Befrienders Mitchell's Plain
Befrienders Mitchell's Plain offers free, confidential, and non-judgemental emotional support to anyone who experiences emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, depression, isolation, helplessness, or hopelessness.
Tel: +27 021 371 1481
Befrienders Uitenhage
Befrienders Uitenhage offers free, confidential, and non-judgemental emotional support to anyone who experiences emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, depression, isolation, helplessness, or hopelessness.
Tel: +27 041 922 0068
Befrienders Umkomaas
Befrienders Umkomaas offers free, confidential, and non-judgemental emotional support to anyone who experiences emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, depression, isolation, helplessness, or hopelessness.
Tel: +27 039 979 5741
ChaiFM Helpline
The ChaiFM Helpline offers a 24-hour helpline for people facing emotional distress and personal difficulties throughout South Africa. They also offer a referral service in instances where further intervention or face-to-face help is required.
Tel: 0800 24 24 36
ChildLine South Africa
ChildLine provides a 24-hour toll-free helpline and supportive therapeutic social services for children who have been victims of violence, and their families.
Tel: 116
Cipla 24hr Mental Health Helpline
Cipla 24hr Mental Health Helpline offers free counselling support to people in South Africa who are in distress or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 0800 456 789
Dr Reddy’s Help Line
Dr Reddy’s Mental Health Helpline, run by SADAG, offers emotional support to people in South Africa who are in distress or at risk of suicide. The line is toll-free and open 8am to 8pm. Outside those hours, call the 24-hour Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0800 567 567.
Tel: 0800 21 22 23
Lifeline Johannesburg
Lifeline Johannesburg offers 24-hour service to people in Alexandra, Norwood, and Soweto to address the psychological and social stresses and trauma that they are struggling to deal with.
Tel: 0861 322 322
Tel: 011 728 1331
Tel: 011 728 1347
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) Suicide Prevention Line
SADAG's Suicide Crisis Helpline offers 24-hour toll-free support to people in South Africa who are at risk of suicide. This is South Africa's main 24-hour suicide crisis line.
Tel: 0800 567 567
South Africa Suicide Crisis Helpline
South Africa's 24-hour Suicide Crisis Helpline is 0800 567 567, listed above. The two numbers below are related SADAG lines: the Dr Reddy's Mental Health Helpline, open 8am to 8pm, and the Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline, open 24 hours. All three are toll-free.
Tel: 0800 21 22 23
Tel: 0800 12 13 14
Tears Foundation
Tears Foundation provides assistance nationwide with a 24-hour free SMS service to anyone who is a victim of rape and sexual abuse in South Africa.
Tel: 0800 083 277 (24-hour toll-free helpline)
Support locator: *134*7355#
Office: 010 590 5920
Email: info@tears.co.za
Careline
Careline, based in Assagay in KwaZulu-Natal, provides crisis support to people in distress. The numbers below are its emergency contacts; calls to mobile numbers are charged at the normal rate.
Tel: 082 787 6452
Tel: 082 822 7981
Suicide Hotline
Suicide Hotline provides crisis support to people in South Africa who are at risk of suicide.
Tel: 514445691
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.
Find Therapists
Must Read
Creating Space for Growth: How Boundaries Strengthen Relationships
Setting healthy boundaries fosters respect, protects emotional well-being, and strengthens relationships by defining personal limits and maintaining self-care.
International Mutual Recognition Agreements for Mental Health Professionals
Mutual recognition agreements for mental health professions are rare and uneven, with major gaps in counselling, social work, and allied therapies. Read on to understand ...
Jumping to Conclusions
Jumping to conclusions is a thinking habit where we assume the worst or make judgments without enough evidence. By recognising this pattern, therapy can help you slow dow...
Case Conceptualisation
Case conceptualisation is how a therapist thoughtfully pulls together your concerns, experiences, and strengths into a clear understanding of what’s going on. This shared...
Guided Discovery
Guided discovery invites clients to arrive at their own insights through collaborative questioning and reflection. Instead of being told what to think, individuals learn ...
About The Author
TherapyRoute
Mental Health Resource
Cape Town, South Africa
“Our mission is to help people access mental healthcare when they need it most.”
TherapyRoute is a mental health resource platform connecting individuals with qualified therapists. Our team curates valuable mental health information and provides resources to help you find the right professional support for your needs.
