Need help?
If you are or have those you love dealing with depression or at risk or suicide there are some help lines available. We can’t vouch for them yet but they are by institutions we should be able to trust and so they are, at the least, a great start.
Apart from the list below, you can contact The Joy Hub [joyhub.ng], a safe space for young people dealing with anxiety, depression and suicidal thought to get access to listeners and professional help.
Call: 0700-THE-JOY-HUB [0700-843-569-482]
If you have resources you want us to add, please reach out to us via email at joy@joyinc.xyz.
Nigeria helplines
Mentally Aware Nigeria: 08091116264 or 08111680686
OlammaCares: 0706 318 3892
SheWritesWoman: 0800 800 2000
Lagos suicide hotlines, by the Lagos State Government: 08058820777 and 09030000741
– “through which residents can ask questions, make inquiries and seek help from professionals early enough to allow for appropriate intervention.”
LUTH Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN): 09080217555, 09034400009, 08111909909 and 07013811143.
MyCareBuddy.com – which provides digital therapy and iRant services. Visit the platform or call 08142441819.
This is apparently a private NGO called Nigeria Suicide Prevention Initiative. Not an institution we know, but many people have referred to them on credible platforms: 08062106493, 08092106493
VTG: (+234) 810 857 2839
If in Cameroon, we only found the national emergency line
Emergency: 117 (Yaounde, Douala and Garoua)
Ghana helplines
Lifeline [Abrepo-Highways Quarters, BLK F, Snr. Staff Lane, Kumasi]. Hotline is 2332 444 71279
Samaritans.org: 233 244 846 701 (24/7 hotline)
Togo helpline
VisionTogo (VTG) provides a call centre targeted at people who are suffering from depression, grief, trauma, or thoughts of suicide. Call (+228) 90 92 22 22
Kenya helplines
Befrienders Kenya
Hotline: 020 2051323 / +254203000378
SMS: 00254 707 633 692, 00254 733 656 262, 00254 775 388 222
South Africa help lines
Lifeline (http://lifelinesa.co.za): 0861 322 322.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group: 0800 567 567.
Lifeline is open 24 hours a day. It can be reached by calling 011 422 4242.
OUT provides a helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. They can be reached at 0860 688 688.
Befrienders South Africa
Hotline: 051 444 5691
E-mail Helpline: befriend@iafrica.com
Lifeline Southern Africa
Hotline: 0861 322 322
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
Hotline: 0800 567 567
SMS: 31393
Canada
Call 1.833.456.4566 (it is available 24/7/365)
Send a text to 45645 (Available 4pm – Midnight ET Standard text messaging rates apply).
United States of America
US Suicide Hotline 1-800-784-2433
NDMDA Depression Hotline – Support Group 800-826-3632
Suicide Prevention Services Crisis Hotline 800-784-2433
Suicide Prevention Services Depression Hotline 630-482-9696
Child Abuse Hotline – Support & Information 800-422-4453
Crisis Help Line – For Any Kind of Crisis 800-233-4357
Domestic & Teen Dating Violence (English & Spanish) 800-992-2600
Parental Stress Hotline – Help for Parents 800-632-8188
Runaway Hotline (All Calls are Confidential) 800-231-6946
Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7, English & Spanish) 800-223-5001
Suicide & Depression Hotline – Covenant House 800-999-9999
National Child Abuse Hotline 800-422-4453
National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE
National Domestic Violence Hotline (TDD) 800-787-3224
National Youth Crisis Hotline 800-448-4663
Crisis Text line: Text HOME to 741741 in the US
Lifeline Crisis Chat (IM, also 1-800-273-TALK)
Online PEER Support Chat (LGBTQ, IM, also 1-888-843-4564)
121Help.Me (child/teen, text ‘121HELP’ to 20121)
RAINN Online Hotline (sexual assault, global access)
Veteran’s Live Chat (global access for American vets, also text 838255 for help)
Let’s get every person we can to get at least the help that’s available.