If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (the national emergency hotline, free and open 24/7) or go to the nearest emergency room, and ask someone near you to stay with you now. If you are thinking about ending your life, or you are worried about someone who is, call one of the numbers below. You do not have to be sure it is “serious enough.” Calling is allowed.
Crisis lines you can call now
These numbers were checked against each organisation’s own website. Lines can change, so if a number does not connect, try another on this list.
Hopeline (NGF Mindstrong, formerly Natasha Goulbourn Foundation)
A suicide prevention and emotional crisis line, described on its own site as running 24/7.
- (02) 8804 4673
- 0917 558 4673
- 0918 873 4673
In Touch Community Services
A free and anonymous crisis line, open 24/7, answered by trained responders.
- (02) 8893 7603
- 0919 056 0709
- 0917 800 1123
- 0917 108 5412
NCMH Crisis Hotline (National Center for Mental Health)
The National Center for Mental Health, the government’s mental health hospital in Mandaluyong, runs a national crisis hotline. Its current numbers are listed on the official NCMH contact page: ncmh.gov.ph/contact-us. We are not printing them here because we could not open that page to confirm them ourselves, and a wrong number on a crisis page is worse than none.
What happens when you call
Most people expect a lecture or an interrogation. It is usually neither. A trained responder listens, asks how you are doing, and asks whether you are safe right now. You can say as much or as little as you like. You do not need a reason that sounds big enough, and you do not need to give your full name.
Some people cry the whole call. Some say nothing for a full minute. Both are fine. If you get a busy signal or voicemail, try the next number on the list, then try again a few minutes later.
Before you call
You do not need to prepare anything. But a few small things can make the call easier if you have a minute.
- Move somewhere you will not be overheard, if you can. A bathroom, a stairwell or a walk outside all work.
- Have your phone charged and enough load or signal to stay on the line.
- Put dangerous items out of reach, or hand them to someone you trust, while you talk.
- If you can, let one person know you are calling, even with a one-line text.
If you would rather not call
Many Filipinos find it easier to text or message than to speak, especially in a small house where people can hear. The lines above are voice lines. If you cannot make a call safely, consider going to a quiet place, such as a church, a mall or a friend’s home, and calling from there. Or ask one person you trust to sit next to you while you call.
If you are worried about someone else
- Ask directly. “Are you thinking of hurting yourself?” does not plant the idea. It opens the door.
- Stay with them if you think they are in danger, and take them to an emergency room if needed.
- Listen more than you fix. Skip “just pray” and “think of your family.” Say you are glad they told you.
- Keep the numbers on this page ready and offer to call together.
NowServing has two longer reads on this: how to stop suicidal thoughts and passive suicide ideation.
Words that are hard to say, and that you can say anyway
People often do not call because they do not know how to start. You can begin with one sentence: “I am not okay tonight.” Or “I do not want to be alive.” Or “I am calling because I do not know who else to call.” The responder will take it from there. You do not have to explain your whole life or defend your feelings.
Some Filipinos feel that talking about dark thoughts is a burden on others, or that it shows weak faith or weak character. It does not. Thoughts like these are a sign that you are hurting and need support, not a sign that you are failing.
After the crisis passes
A crisis line gets you through the night. It is not ongoing treatment. Once things are calmer, a doctor can help with what is underneath. You can find a psychiatrist and book a visit, or read where to get mental health help in the Philippines for other options. If low mood has been sitting for weeks, see depression in the Philippines: signs and when to see a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Are Philippine crisis hotlines free?
The organisations above describe their crisis lines as free or as toll free. Your own network’s regular call charges may still apply on some lines, so check with your carrier if you are worried about load.
Can I call anonymously?
Yes. In Touch describes its line as anonymous. You can decline to give your name on any of these lines.
Do I have to be suicidal to call?
No. You can call if you are overwhelmed, panicking, grieving or cannot stop crying. It is emotional support first.
What if I cannot get through?
Try the next number, wait a few minutes and try again. If you are in danger, go to the nearest emergency room or get someone to stay with you.
Will my family be told?
We could not confirm each line’s privacy policy on its own site, so we will not promise it for them. If this worries you, ask the responder at the start of the call how your information is handled. Asking is allowed.