Get help now
If things feel unmanageable right now, you do not have to wait for an application to be reviewed. These lines are free and open to anyone.
In immediate danger?
If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, call emergency services straight away.
Call 112Call from any mobile. From a landline, call 10111 for police or 10177 for an ambulance.
Free crisis and mental health lines in South Africa
These are run by specialist organisations, not by the Foundation. You do not need to be one of our applicants to call them.
Suicide Crisis Helpline (SADAG)
0800 567 56724 hours, every day
Free telephone counselling, crisis intervention and referrals.
SMS 31393WhatsApp 076 882 2775
Childline South Africa
11624 hours, every day
Free and confidential, for anyone under 18 and for adults concerned about a child.
LifeLine South Africa
0861 322 32224 hours, every day
Free and confidential counselling support.
Netcare Akeso Crisis Line
0861 435 78724 hours, every day
Staffed by trained counsellors.
Cipla Mental Health Helpline
0800 456 78924 hours, every day
Free telephone counselling.
SMS 31393
SADAG Mental Health Line
011 234 48378am to 8pm
General mental health support, information and referrals.
Not in South Africa, or these numbers not working? These numbers are matched to your location automatically, which is not always exact. Find a helpline in your own country, an international directory of crisis lines.
A note on what we do. The Aimee Howard Foundation funds therapy, but we are not a crisis service and we cannot respond to emergencies. Applications are reviewed by a small team and are not monitored around the clock, so please use the lines above if you need support now.