Dr justine dreyer

Mental Health Resources

A mixture of local and international resources to support understanding, education, and informed engagement in mental health care.

Mental health services directory

There are many different types of mental healthcare services available in South Africa. In case you need it, here are a few of them:

Ambulance / Medical emergency: 10177 (or your local ambulance number) — call if someone is at immediate risk of harm or is medically unstable.

Police / urgent safety: 10111 (South African Police Service).

Suicide Crisis Helpline (SADAG) — 0800 567 567 — 24/7 trained counsellors, crisis support and referrals.

SADAG General / Referral Lines — 011 234 4837 or 0800 20 50 26 — help finding a psychiatrist/psychologist/support group; office hours listed online.

LifeLine / National Counselling Line — 0861 322 322 (or 0800-012-322) — 24/7 counselling, trauma & crisis support.

Childline South Africa (children & concerns about children) — 116 (free from any network, 24/7) — support and reporting for children under 18.

Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline — 0800 12 13 14 (SMS 32312) — national substance-use helpline and referral.

Local SANCA centres — SANCA has provincial/local treatment and prevention programmes; search “SANCA + [your province]” for nearest centre.

South African Depression & Anxiety Group (SADAG) — information, support groups, specialised helplines and school/university lines.

South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) — advocacy, community programmes and provincial contacts: +27 (0)11 781 1852.

Mental Health Information Centre of Southern Africa — searchable professional directory and public info: +27 21 938-9229.

Local clinics – primary health care assessment, diagnosis, initiation of treatment, and referral to doctor or counsellor when needed. Some clinics have access to specialist outreach services.

General hospitals – assessment, diagnosis and treatment of urgent or serious mental illness, by doctors in the emergency centre, general ward or psychiatric department.

Psychiatric hospitals – referral only in-hospital and out-of-hospital management of serious mental illness by specialised psychiatric treatment teams consisting of mental health nurses, medical officers, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers.

Primary care providers – general practitioners (GP’s) provide mental health screening, diagnosis and out-of-hospital treatment. They may refer to a psychiatrist or psychologist when needed.

Therapists – psychologists, counsellors, and occupational therapists assess the impact of trauma, relationships, stress, thinking patterns and how mental health symptoms affect daily functioning. They provide various forms of non-medication treatment.

Psychiatrists – provide specialist level mental health assessments, diagnosis and treatment, often utilising multiple treatment modalities including medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle adjustments, brain- and body-based treatments.

Local faith-based counselling services — many faith communities provide counselling through local churches or through faith-based organisations, such as Hospivision, Hope House Counselling Centre and Focus on the Family Africa.

Community mental health NGOs — include national groups such as FAMSA, SANCA, and Dementia SA, and provincial groups such as Cape Mental Health, Central Gauteng Mental Health, Durban & Coastal Mental Health (contacts vary by region).

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South African Depression and Anxiety Group logo
South African Depression and Anxiety Group

(SADAG)

South African Society of Psychiatrists

Families South Africa

(FAMSA)

South African Federation for Mental Health

(SAFMH)

South African Institute of Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Childline South Africa
LifeLine South Africa
The Counselling Hub

Focus on the Family Africa
South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

(SANCA)

Hope House Counselling Centre

Hospivision

Dementia South Africa

Mental Health Information Centre

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My Articles

I regularly write short articles on mental health conditions, substance use, and the ways psychiatric symptoms can overlap with medical illness. These pieces are written for the general public and may help you better understand the questions that often arise before or during treatment.

You can find them here.

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Further Reading

The information and links on this page are provided for general educational purposes only. They are intended to help patients and families better understand different treatment approaches, and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Linked resources are offered as a convenience and do not imply endorsement. Content on external websites is beyond the control of this practice and may change over time.

Mental health treatment is always individual. What is appropriate for one person may not be appropriate for another. Decisions about diagnosis and treatment should be made in consultation with a registered healthcare professional who is familiar with your medical history and current circumstances.

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Psychotherapy

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Medication

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Integrative Treatment