Services for South Africans

Personal crisis help services

I need help and I need it now! Wherever you are, whatever the time of day, and however bad it is ... here's someone to call. LIFE LINE

Life Line Southern Africa
24-hour crisis intervention service. "Emotional First Aid station". Free, confidential telephone counselling, rape counselling, trauma counselling, Aids counselling, and a range of other services. Not-for-profit organisation.

CHILDREN IN CRISIS

Childline South Africa
Assistance from trained counsellors for abused children, young people and their families. Not-for-profit organisation.

  • 24-hour toll-free helpline: 0800 055 555
SA National Council for Child Welfare
The co-ordinating body for 177 affiliated child welfare societies, organisations and community outreach projects. Johannesburg Child Welfare Society
Services Johannesburg and broader community and offers services to abandoned, abused and neglected children. Also facilitates adoption and foster care.
  • Head office: (011) 331-0171
  • Website
Police Child Protection Units
Special police units that investigate violent crimes against children and offer specialised services to child victims of crime. There are 45 such units around the country. WOMEN IN CRISIS

People Opposed to Woman Abuse (Powa)
Gauteng-based organisation offering shelter and counselling services to women in abusive relationships, rape survivors, survivors of incest etc.

Stop Women Abuse
Crisis counselling for women who have been raped or abused, advice and support for people wanting to support women in need of help, legal and other options available for abused women and rape survivors. Run by Life Line.
  • Toll-free Helpline: 0800 150 150
  • Website
Speak Out
Rape emergency information, services, advice, links. Non-governmental organisation. Rape Crisis
Rape crisis counselling, court preparation, support groups, important contact numbers. Non-governmental organisation. ALCOHOL & DRUG ADDICTION

Alcoholics Anonymous SA
Worldwide fellowship for alcoholics supporting those choosing to be sober. Only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

Al-Anon
For families and friends of problem drinkers, with a special section (Alateen) for children of alchoholics, as well as for adult children of alcoholics. Narcotics Anonymous SA
NA is a non-profit organisation for recovering drug addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean.
  • Cape Town helpline: 0881 30 03 27
  • Johannesburg helpline: (011) 485 5248
  • Website
SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Sanca provides specialised and affordable prevention and treatment services for alcohol and other drug dependence. Based in Johannesburg with 38 affiliates (counselling centres) that operate independently.
  • Head office: (011) 482-7187
  • Website
MENTAL HEALTH, DEPRESSION & ANXIETY

SA Depression & Anxiety Group
Sadag campaigns to eliminate discrimination and stigma in the field of mental health and to support, educate and assist the public, patients and their families with mental health problems and issues. Provides information on depression, panic disorder, social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bi-polar mood disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and an array of other psychiatric conditions - including those affecting children and the elderly, and suicidal behaviour. Can help you find a psychiatrist, psychologist, or GP with special interest in mental health in your area. Helpline staffed by trained and counsellors.

FAMILY & MARRIAGE

Family and Marriage Association of SA
Famsa supports families through stressful situations: offers counselling and education to strengthen marriage and other relationships in the family. Assists with divorce, mediation, domestic violence, trauma, grief counselling etc. Famsa has 27 offices around the country.

PREGNANCY, CONTRACEPTION, ABORTION

Marie Stopes Clinics
Has 14 day clinics around the country offering safe abortions, family planning services including birth control, pregnancy tests, male and female sterilisation, HIV testing and ante-natal services. Fees charged according to client's income bracket.

  • Toll free: 0800 11 77 85
  • National: (011) 838 3271
  • Website
Emergency Contraception Hotline
24-hour toll-free hotline for information and referrals on emergency contraception. A public-private partnership between the provincial health department, the University of Stellenbosch, the World Population Foundation, and private clinic Medi-Challenge. SouthAfrica.info reporter

Using SAinfo material Want to use this article in your publication or on your website?
See: Using SAinfo material

Print this page Send this article to a friend
Talk about it ... you're not alone (Image: South African Depression and Anxiety Group)

Related articles

South Africa's Aids Helpline Aids Helpline
0800 012 322
Frightened, confused by Aids? South Africa's Aids Helpline offers toll-free, multi-lingual assistance from trained counsellors accessing the latest data through a computerised call centre. Backed up by the Aids Helpline website.
South African charities

SA charities

Want to give back to your community? Here are some places you can start.