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).
