Help Desk
Our programmes include raising awareness on mental health, advocating – through various platforms – for increases in mental health resourcing and more.
SAFMH’s helpdesk is dedicated to assisting mental health care users, their families and members of the public in need of information about mental health services. The organisation can however only assist with information and referrals and does not provide any mental health care services / medical advice directly. Please click here to view our privacy notice.
Our contact details
Operating Hours
Mon – Thur: 07:30am – 16:00pm
Friday:07:30am – 13:00pm
Sat – Sun:Closed
Please note that:
List of Contact Details
| Akeso psychiatric response unit | +27 (0) 86 143 5787 |
| Alcoholics Anonymous | +27 (0) 86 143 5722 |
| ChildLine | +27 (0) 80 005 5555 |
| Elderly Helpline | +27 (0) 80 000 3081 |
| Family and marriage society of South Africa | +27 (0) 11 975 7107 |
| GBVF-related service complaints (SAPS) | +27 (0) 80 033 3177 |
| Gender Based Violence command centre | +27 (0) 80 042 8428 or *120*7867# |
| Human Trafficking | +27 (0) 800 073 7283 / +27 (0) 82 455 3664 |
| Ithemba Drug Toll-Free number | +27 (0) 80 022 3217 |
| Legal Aid advice line (toll free) | +27 (0) 80 011 0100 |
| Lifeline crisis line | +27 (0 86 132 2322 / +27 (0) 11 728 1347 |
| Narcotics anonymous SA | +27 (0) 83 900 6962 |
| National AIDS helpline | +27 (0) 80 001 2322 |
| National Human Trafficking Helpline | +27 (0) 80 022 2777 |
| Persons with disabilities | SMS HELP to 31531 |
| Rape Crisis Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 447 9762 |
| SA Depression and Anxiety Group suicide line | +27 (0) 80 056 7567 / +27 (0) 11 234 4837 |
| SAPS crime stop | +27 (0) 86 001 0111 |
| SASSA call centre | +27 (0) 80 060 1011 / +27 (0) 80 070 1701 |
| Stop gender violence centre | +27 (0) 86 132 2322 / +27 (0) 80 015 0150 |
| Stop Stockouts campaign | +27 (0) 84 855 7867 / +27 (0) 11 728 7365 |
| Substance abuse helpline | +27 (0) 80 012 1314 |
| Cape Mental Health | +27 (0) 21 447 9040 | info@cmh.co.za / info@cmh.org.za | http://www.capementalhealth.co.za/ |
| Central Gauteng Mental Health | +27 (0) 11 614 6855/6 | admin@witsmhs.co.za | http://www.witsmhs.co.za/ |
| Durban and Coastal Mental Health | +27 (0) 31 207 2717 | info@dcmh.org.za | http://dcmh.org.za/ |
| Indlela Mental Health (Gqeberha) | +27 (0) 41 365 0502 | deonette@pemhs.org.za | https://web.facebook.com/Port-Elizabeth-Mental-Health-392308054214367/?_rdc=1&_rdr |
| Laudium Mental Health | +27 (0) 12 374 2100 | lmhs@mailbox.co.za | |
| Limpopo Mental Health | +27 (0) 15 307 4732 | ||
| Mpumalanga Mental Health | +27 (0) 17 631 2505 | mmhs.provsec@gmail.com | https://www.facebook.com/pg/Mpumalanga-Mental-Health-Society-368310533274266/posts/ |
| North Gauteng Mental Health | +27 (0) 12 332 3927 | https://www.ngmh.org.za/ | |
| North West Mental Health | +27 (0) 18 297 5270 | nwmhsws@gmail.com | |
| Northern Cape Mental Health | +27 (0) 53 841 0537 | mail.yonder@gmail.com | |
| Northern Free State Mental Health | +27 (0) 57 352 1046 | nfsmh@internext.co.za | |
| Pietermaritzburg Mental Health | +27 (0) 33 392 7248/9 | mhsfax@xsinet.co.za / mhsworkshops@xsinet.co.za | http://www.pmbmhs.org.za/ |
| Association for Rehabilitation for Persons with a Disability (East London) | +27 (0) 43 722 1811 | diffable1@iafrica.com | |
| Southern Free State Mental Health | +27 (0) 51 444 0212/3 | svgdirek@gmail.com | |
| Uitenhange Mental Health | +27 (0) 41 922 8025 | uitenhagementalhealth@gmail.com | |
| Vaal Triangle Mental Health | +27 (0) 16 931 2910/1 | vanderbijlpark@vaalmentalhealth.co.za | https://www.vaalmentalhealth.co.za/#page-content |
| Zululand Mental Health | +27 (0) 35 787 0146 | info@zmhs.org.za |
Information on pro-bono legal support
Even though SAFMH is an organisation that focuses on the human rights of persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, it does not have attorneys as part of its in-house staff compliment. SAFMH therefore does not provide legal services itself, but instead facilitates access to justice by referring matters to legal entities.
It is therefore important to note the following:
In some cases, pro bono legal support is available when one cannot afford the services of an attorney. It is important to note that free legal advice is possible to obtain, but free legal representation is not that easy to obtain. Persons seeking pro bono legal services are normally asked for a means test in order to determine whether they would qualify for pro bono legal support.
SAFMH is always looking to partner with legal organisations and legal practitioners who would be available to provide pro bono legal support to mental health care users. Any qualified legal experts who are interested in partnering with SAFMH can get in contact with our offices via info@safmh.org