Type: Helpline:

Are You in Crisis or Distress? Here Are Some Mental Health Helplines in India.

Talk to someone now.

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If you are thinking about suicide, experiencing stress, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like immediate emotional support, reach out to these helplines right away.

Each helpline claims to offer confidentiality and anonymity. They are available to everyone and for free. The helplines listed here are operated by trained professionals and/or trained volunteers who provide non-judgmental listening and emotional support to anyone in distress.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What details should I never share with a helpline?

    Helplines (for the most part) should offer a safe space for any experience you’re going through. It’s okay to feel awkward to not know how to bring the conversation up, the helpline volunteers are trained to help you!

    Do ensure you are only sharing information that you feel comfortable to share. A rule of thumb is to never share your full name, bank details, personal address, or other identifiable information with a helpline.

  • Are these helplines queer affirmative/inclusive?

    We try and only list those helplines which have come recommended by the community to us. While most helplines have supporting press releases and brochures to support their claim of being "queer friendly", as we don’t have access to their volunteer training resources, we can never be too sure.

    Please do not feel forced to open up about your experience of queerness or marginalization with the helplines you call. Let them earn your trust.

    We do call every helpline we list, to ensure their details are correct. If our community reports a helpline as harmful, unresponsive, or otherwise, we update this page accordingly.

  • Do you operate any of these helplines, services or resources yourself?

    No. TheMindClan.com does not operate or own any of the helplines listed on this page. TheMindClan.com is not designed to offer support in crisis situations, which is why we’ve made a list of organizations in this space who do claim to offer this support.

    These services operate independently and TheMindClan.com does not own, operate, or take any part in their day to day activities.

    We do, however, believe that several people have had positive experiences with the helplines mentioned on this page and we hope to only feature those services that are trustworthy and effective.

    If these helplines are not able to help you and you’re still in intense distress, please reach out to a trusted nearby hospital or call trusted emergency services.

  • I called and it was a bad experience. I still need help, what do I do?
    1. Call back, and let the responder know what happened. Crisis intervention, especially if suicidality is a factor, is not easy, and not even the experts get it perfect every time. A mental health professional who is also a helpline operator had once shared, “Personally, if I have a call go “south” on me, nothing makes me happier than to know that the person called back and had a better conversation with one of my colleagues.”

    2. If you have a complaint about a helpline experience, please try to report it to the helpline administration by emailing them. Each helpline’s email address or website has been provided on this page.

    3. If calling them back does not work out, reach out to another helpline listed here. The professionals on the other side do want to help you in any way they can.

    4. If the helplines don’t work out in general and if you are in crisis, another thing you could consider is visiting the nearest trusted hospital or emergency room where they may connect with a psychiatrist, social worker, counsellor or therapist in person.

  • I am a caregiver to someone showing suicidal tendencies. What do I do?

    If you care for someone who has attempted suicide in the past or is at risk for a suicide attempts, you don’t have to feel alone in this. You may not be able to completely fix their problems or take away their pain. But what you can do is access appropriate supportive services for your loved one and for yourself. Here are some steps you could take to help a loved one who is showing suicidal behaviour:

    1. If you feel ready and comfortable to, have an open conversation with your loved one about their experience. Ask your loved one directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?” “Are you planning to harm yourself?” Being direct is said to not cause a person who is not suicidal to become suicidal. Talking about it may help to reduce your loved one’s suicidal distress by creating a climate of openness and caring.

    2. Listen to them without judgment or interruptions. You can help your loved one feel calmer and less alone simply by being willing to listen attentively and without bias.

    3. Tell them directly that they are loved and that they are not a burden. Though it may seem obvious to us, sometimes the depression or hopelessness or helplessness may push our loved one towards believing otherwise. It always helps to remind them that they matter.

    4. Reach out to a therapist, support group or a helpline service yourself to seek guidance on what you can do next. It is important to connect your loved one to any or all of these services that they may find most helpful.

    5. Create a safety plan with your loved one. Check pages 7 and 9 of this PDF (External Link) for details on how you can go about doing this.

    As a caregiver/ally, you become a part of a supportive team – that includes family members, friends, mental health professionals and other service providers – working together to help your loved one stay safe.

  • Can I talk to a helpline about any mental health issue I’m going through?
    No matter what problems you are dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call any of the listed helpline. People call them to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, financial worries, relationships, sexual identity, gender identity, abuse, depression, anxiety, mental and physical illness, loneliness, to name a few.

The Helplines

While the helplines listed below are free, local charges may apply when you call them up.

🌟 This section was last updated on 27 Nov, 2024.

Sangath Helpline Image
Sangath Helpline
Telephone Helpline
About: A free tele-counselling helpline that is run by Sangath NGO. Available in Hindi, English, Marathi and Konkani.
Run by: Trained Mental Health Therapists.
Timings: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 10:00AM - 6:00 PM
Number: 011-41198666
Website: Visit Website.
In case their counsellors are occupied, or you call outside their working hours, they mention that you should get a call back within 24 hours. You can write to them directly if you have any questions: [email protected]
Parivarthan Image
Parivarthan
Telephone Helpline Online Counselling
About: Parivarthan Counselling Helpline (PCH), is a free phone counselling service operated by a team of 15 trained, certified and multi-lingual counsellors.
Run by: Trained Counsellors.
Timings: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, @ 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Number: +91 7676602602
Email: [email protected]
Website: Visit Website.
This helpline may be shut during public holidays.
iCall: A Service By TISS Image
iCall: A Service By TISS
Telephone Counseling Email Counseling Chat Counseling
About: Free Telephone & Email based Counseling Services
Run by: Mental Health Professionals.
Timings: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 10:00AM - 8:00 PM
Number: +91 9152987821
Email: [email protected]
Website: Visit Website.
Samaritans Mumbai Image
Samaritans Mumbai
Telephone Helpline
About: A helpline providing emotional support for those who are stressed, distressed, depressed, or suicidal.
Run by: Trained Volunteers.
Timings: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Number: +91 8422984528
Email: [email protected]
Website: Visit Website.
This helpline has additional contact numbers. +91 8422984529,+91 8422984530
Mann Talks Image
Mann Talks
Telephone Helpline Email Counselling
About: The Mann Talks Helpline offers free and confidential emotional and psychological support through a team of trained mental health professionals.
Run by: Trained Counsellors.
Timings: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 09:00AM - 8:00 PM
Number: +91 8686139139
Email: [email protected]
Website: Visit Website.
For Email Counselling, Mann Talks says the following: 'You can write to Mann Talks at [email protected] anytime of the day on all days, and Mann Talks get back to you within 2 working days'.
One Future Helpline Image
One Future Helpline
Trauma-Informed Peer Listening Services
About: One Future Helpline offers pro-bono peer listening support to those seeking a listening ear in English and Hindi.
Run by: Trained Volunteers.
Timings: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, @ 10:00AM - 6:00 PM
Number: 08043053588
This is not an emergency helpline. This means we do not provide any support in any kind of emergency, therapeutic or counseling services or offer professional advice or medical diagnosis.
Vandrevala Foundation Helpline Image
Vandrevala Foundation Helpline
Telephone Helpline WhatsApp Chat
About: A 24x7 Free helpline manned by professionals and volunteers.
Run by: Trained Volunteers.
Timings: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 00:00AM - 11:59 PM
Number: +91 9999666555
Website: Visit Website.
This helpline also has an international WhatsApp Chat Number. +919999666555
sumunum connect Image
sumunum connect
Telephone Helpline Call back & follow up service
About: A a free multilingual mental health & wellbeing support line. Offering mental health crisis interventions, emotional support & handholding services.
Run by: Mental health professionals & trained volunteers
Timings: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 11:00AM - 11:00 PM
Number: 1800123786868
Email: [email protected]
Website: Visit Website.
One Future Helpline Image
One Future Helpline
Trauma-Informed Peer Listening Services
About: One Future Helpline offers pro-bono peer listening support to those seeking a listening ear in English and Hindi.
Run by: Trained Volunteers.
Timings: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, @ 10:00AM - 6:00 PM
Number: 08043053588
This is not an emergency helpline. This means we do not provide any support in any kind of emergency, therapeutic or counseling services or offer professional advice or medical diagnosis.

TheMindClan.com does not own or operate the crisis helplines listed above, and make no claims to the accuracy of the information provided. It cannot be held liable for any issues arising from from usage of these independent third party service providers If you are in a crisis and the above helplines are not able to help you, please reach out to a trusted nearby hospital or call trusted emergency services.

We imagine that it is really tough right now, but we urge you to hold on. Things will not always stay this way. Hang in there. TheMindClan.com wants you to remember that you are going to get through this. You matter. Stay with us. Reach out.

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