Mental health crisis support
Mental health crisis support

Africa Mental Health Helplines & Crisis Support

⚠️ Please note that:

  • Availability and reliability varies by country
  • If one number doesn’t connect, try alternative options listed
  • Currently, many African countries do not have national mental health crisis helplines — most support is provided through NGOs, hospitals, or the general emergency service lines

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact either the local emergency numbers for your country or the free crisis helplines listed here.

Find Mental Health Crisis Support in Africa

🌍 East Africa

  • 📞 Befrienders Kenya: +254 722 178 177
  • 🚨 Emergency Services: 999 / 911 / 112
  • 🚑 Ambulance (Red Cross): 1199
  • 👶 National Child Helpline: 116
  • 🚨 Emergency: 999
  • 📞 Mental Health Uganda: +256 414 664 264
  • 📞 Support Line: 0800 200 600 / (0800) 21 21 21
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112
  • 👶 Child Helpline Tanzania: 116
  • 📞 Tanzania Mental Health Trust: +255 755 740 725
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112
  • 📞 Rwanda Suicide Hotline: 8015
  • 🚨 Emergency: 911
  • 📞 Abrhot Center: +251 911 998 619
  • 🚨 Emergency: 999 / 888
  • 🏥 Somali Red Crescent: 446
  • 🚨 Emergency: 17 / 19 / 112
  • 🚨 Emergency: 114 / 127
  • 🏥 Medical Emergencies: 01 201917 or 01 201606
  • 🚨 Emergency: 999
  • 📞 Emergency Helpline (IOM): 778
  • 📞 Befrienders Khartoum: (249) 11-555-253
  • 📞 Human Health Aid: 002 576 977 6367
  • 🚨 Emergency: 998 / 112 / 997
  • 📞 Lifeline Malawi (LLM): (00) 265 999 399 765 / (00) 265 885 400 502
  • 🚨 Emergency: 117 / 119

🌍 West Africa

  • 📞 Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI): +234 809 111 6264 / +234 811 680 686
  • 📞 Suicide Prevention Initiative Nigeria: +234 806 210 6493
  • 📞 Nigeria Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN): 080 00 78 7746
  • 🚨 General Emergency: 112
  • 🚨 Emergency: 999 / 112
  • 📞 Lifeline Ghana: +233 244 471 279
  • 📞 Ghana Mental Health Authority: 0800 678 678
  • 🚨 Emergency: 12 / 17
  • 📞 Gindima: +221 200 365
  • 🚨 Emergency: 185 / 111 / 170
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 17 / 18
  • 🚨 Emergency: 15 / 112 / 17
  • 🚨 Emergency: 15 / 112 / 17
  • 🚨 Emergency: 118 / 117
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 117
  • 🚨 Emergency: 18 / 117
  • 🚨 Emergency: 117 / 19
  • 🚨 Emergency: 911 / 5888
  • 📞 Lifeline Liberia: 6534308
  • 🚨 Emergency: 116 / 117 / 112
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 119 / 117
  • 🚨 Emergency: 130 / 132 / 112

🌍 Southern Africa

  • 📞 South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): 0800 567 567
  • 📞 Lifeline Southern Africa: 0861 322 322
  • 🚨 Emergency (Police/Medical): 112 / 10 177
  • 💬 SA Federation for Mental Health WhatsApp: +27 76 078 8722
  • 🚨 Emergency: 999 / 994 / 112
  • 📞 Friendship Bench: +263 773 243 642
  • 🚨 Emergency: 999 / 112 / 992
  • 📞 Lifeline: 933
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 116 / 15015 / 113
  • 🏥 Luanda Psychiatric Hospital: +244 222 335 870
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 999 / 10111
  • 🚨 Emergency: 997 / 112 / 999
  • 📞 Lifeline: 3911270
  • 🚨 Emergency: 121 / 112 / 123
  • 👶 Child Helpline Lesotho: 116
  • 🚨 Emergency: 977 / 112 / 999
  • 📞 Gender-Based Violence Helpline (SWAGAA): 910
  • 👶 Child Helpline: 116
  • 🚨 Emergency: 124 / 117
  • 👶 Child Protection Helpline: 147
  • 🚨 Emergency: 114 / 112 / 999
  • 📞 Befrienders: 800 9393 / 467 0160
  • 👶 Child Protection: 113
  • 📞 Domestic Violence Hotline: 139
  • 🚨 Emergency: 151 / 112 / 999
  • 🚨 Emergency: 17

🌍 Central Africa

  • 🚨 Emergency: 119 / 112
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112
  • 🏥 SAMU (Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente): +243 81 251 00 00
  • 🚨 Emergency: 118 / 112 / 117
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 1730
  • 🏥 Medical Emergency (SAMU): 1300
  • 🚨 Emergency: 114 / 112
  • 🚨 Emergency: 1220 / 1212 / 117
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 2251-4242 / 17
  • 🚨 Emergency: 112 / 115

🌍 North Africa

  • 🚨 Emergency: 123 / 122 / 112
  • 📞 Befrienders Cairo: +20 2 762 1602 / +20 2 762 1603
  • 🚨 Emergency: 15 / 19 / 112
  • 📞 SOS Amitié: +212 537 777 777
  • 📞 Moroccan Psychiatric Association: +212 639 099 552
  • 🚨 Emergency: 14 / 112 / 1021 / 1055
  • 📞 Crisis Line: +213 983 200 058
  • 🚨 Emergency: 190 / 112 / 193

Global Mental Health Resources

For global mental health helplines and mental health crisis support, please check these international resources:

Lifeline International

Intellect.co

Befrienders Worldwide

7 Cups

Global Mental Health Resources

For global mental health helplines and mental health crisis support, please check these international resources:

Lifeline International
Intellect.co
Befrienders Worldwide
7 Cups

Help Us Keep This List Updated

Missing a number? If you have a verified mental health helpline for any African country, please send it to us — we verify and update listings regularly. Also, in case a number no longer works, please let us know and we can make amendments to this list. Thank you!

Important Notes

Availability and hours may vary in some countries

Some numbers only provide emotional support and crisis listening.

These numbers do not replace emergency medical or police services in life-threatening situations.

⚠️ Please note that availability and reliability of mental health crisis services vary by country. If one number doesn’t connect, we recommend trying alternative options listed. Currently, many African countries do not have a national mental health hotline — only about 15 African countries have clearly documented mental health crisis helplines, with most support provided through NGOs, hospitals, or the general emergency service lines.
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