Seeking help from a suicide helpline in South Africa can be life-saving. When things get dark and every thought in your head gears towards the negative, a crisis helpline can be your guiding light out of the darkness. One phone call, one conversation could make the difference between life and death.
Suicide helplines in South Africa offer free and confidential support 24/7. In this article, we’ll be looking at several South African suicide helplines. Each one is equipped with trained professionals who listen without judgment.
If you ever need to talk to someone, just pick a number from here, give them a call, and pour your heart out.
What Do Suicide Helplines Do?
Suicide helplines in South Africa provide immediate emotional support for people in distress. Their goal is to be that comforting voice that guides you off the edge. These mental health crisis helplines connect people with trained professionals who can offer guidance and reassurance.
Many South Africans think this is only for those with severe suicidal thoughts, but they work as depression and anxiety helplines as well. If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out to a suicide helpline in South Africa is the first step toward getting help.
Suicide Helpline South Africa: Where To Find Immediate Support
For a long time, mental health issues were considered unimportant. This left struggling teenagers with no one to call when things got tough. Thankfully, solutions to mental health issues are slowly becoming a priority—not an afterthought.
One major solution was the introduction of suicide helplines in South Africa. This gave South African teens exactly what they needed: free, immediate, and confidential support. As we take a look at some of the best depression helplines, just remember that you don’t have to go through it alone.
You deserve a listening ear who offers unconditional support. And you’ll get that with the crisis helplines on this list.
1. Angie Diedericks Suicide Prevention Program (ADS)
The Angie Diedericks Suicide Prevention Program seeks to provide South African teenagers with immediate help for all mental health issues. They are a well-known suicide helpline in South Africa. They have a free helpline for children aged 12 to 18 years.
This program is dedicated to making sure no teenager suffers in silence. In reality, their hope is for no teenager to suffer at all. But in cases of crisis, ADS offers a helping hand, a listening ear, and unwavering support.
They offer both counselling and crisis intervention. You can also call them to seek help for a loved one. If you notice someone struggling, ADS encourages you to speak up and get them the help they need.
Sometimes, people struggle to share their problems. This is especially true for South African teenagers. A 2023 poll by UNICEF South Africa found that 47% of youth did not seek out the mental health support they needed.
It stated that the primary reason was that they didn’t know where to go. Some teenagers need help but don’t know who to turn to for it. This is why speaking up on behalf of those in need is so important.
WhatsApp Contact: +44 754 3311 638 Our counsellor is based in the UK, speaks English, but also understands Afrikaans. South African teenagers will be speaking with a professional, in confidence.
Email: help@angie.org.za
2. South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
SADAG offers one of the most accessible suicide helplines in South Africa. This agency has a team of professionals who provide counselling for a variety of mental health issues. Their helpline for suicidal thoughts is open 24/7, showing their dedication to providing help for those in need.
No matter what you’re going through, SADAG is always ready to help. If you are unsure how to help someone, you can reach out to SADAG on their behalf. You never have to watch your loved ones suffer when you can make a call and get them the professional support they need. For more understanding around suicidal depression and how to cope, you can also explore resources like this guide, which offers additional support and insight.
Suicide Helpline: 0800 456 789 (Free 24-hour Suicide Crisis Line)
WhatsApp Support: 076 882 2775
Suicide Helpline: 0800 456 789 (Free 24-hour Crisis Helpline)
WhatsApp Contact: 076 882 2775
3. Lifeline South Africa
The name ‘Lifeline’ is so indicative of what this agency offers. When you’re drowning in the pain of your situation, they throw a lifeline into the water to rescue you. That lifeline is support, counseling, and compassion.
As a reliable suicide helpline in South Africa, As a leading suicide helpline in South Africa, LifeLine provides emotional support through phone and online platforms. Whenever you need to talk to someone, you can always reach out. Comfort and peace are waiting for you on the other side of the line.
Suicide Helpline: 0861 322 322 (24-hour Counselling Line)
4. Keready Youth Line
Keready is an agency that provides exceptional health and wellness services for South Africans. The Keready Youth Line is just one aspect of the company’s services. It functions as a suicide helpline in South Africa.
It offers relief for young people facing a variety of health challenges. More than anything, Keready wants to make healthcare more accessible to South Africans. It’s their mission, and they’re determined to see it through.
With their team of qualified professionals, active social media accounts, and mobile health units, Keready brings healthcare right to those who need it.
Suicide Helpline: 060 019 0000
WhatsApp Number: 060 019 0000
5. Childline South Africa
We love the work Childline is doing to provide free and accessible mental health support for South African children and teens. Their website alone is a testament to just how much they care about the well-being of every single person. They go the extra mile to ensure they’re catering to everyone.
If you are under 18 and need support, Childline is a suicide helpline in South Africa designed specifically for children and teens.
Suicide Helpline: 116 (Toll-free on cellphones and landlines)
6. ChaiFM Helpline
ChaiFM is an important suicide helpline in South Africa. They offer over-the-phone counseling for anyone looking for immediate crisis support. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with life and need someone to listen without judgment, the ChaiFM hotline is the place to go.
Anyone facing emotional distress can reach out to them. And if you need better support like face-to-face therapy, ChaiFM will refer you to an experienced mental health professional.
Suicide Helpline: 0800 24 24 36 (Toll-free Counseling Number)
7. Netcare Akeso Crisis Helpline
The Netcare Akeso Crisis Helpline is a suicide helpline in South Africa that assists those dealing with mental health problems of any kind. They make the mental health of all South Africans their number one priority.
From anxiety to depression, Netcare offers support for a range of issues. If you or someone you know needs help, Netcare is ready with a team of mental health professionals to help out.
Suicide Helpline: 0861 435 787
8. Tears Foundation
The Tears Foundation caters to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse. They’re a suicide helpline in South Africa that offers 24/7 support to anyone in need.
Their services are effective and confidential, giving victims and survivors a shoulder to lean on in times of distress. As a depression helpline in South Africa, the Tears Foundation does a good job of bringing comfort to the people who need it. For parents and teachers who want to better understand and support teenagers facing these challenges, resources like this guide on teenage suicide can provide valuable insight.
Suicide Helpline: 08000 TEARS / 08000 83277 (24/7 Free Helpline)
Support locator: *134*7355#
Email: info@tears.co.za
Conclusion
If you ever feel like you have no one to talk to, then be sure to reach out to one of the helplines listed. Remember that you are never alone—there is always a suicide helpline in South Africa ready to support you.
Even if you’re not in immediate distress, calling a suicide helpline in South Africa can still help you out. Our counselors are always willing to listen without judgment and offer support in all the ways we can. This ensures a somewhat bad situation doesn’t escalate into a crisis.
