Warning signs, how to help someone at risk, and crisis lines you can contact right now.
If you are thinking about suicide, or you are worried about someone else, this page explains the warning signs, how to help, and where to get support right now. You are not alone, and help is available. If there is immediate danger, call emergency services on 999 / 112.
If you or someone you are with is in immediate danger, call Emergency Services on 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department now.
The Mind Project is an editorial platform, not a crisis service. But we maintain this directory so that support is always one click away. If you are struggling, please reach out to one of the services below. You deserve support, and help is available.
Befrienders Kenya — 24-hour emotional support: +254 722 178 177
Childline Kenya — for children and young people, toll-free: 116
Emergency Services: 999 or 112
| Service | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Befrienders Kenya | 24-hour confidential emotional support and suicide prevention | +254 722 178 177 |
| Childline Kenya | 24-hour support for children, young people, and child protection | 116 (toll-free) |
| Kenya Red Cross — Mental Health | Psychosocial support helpline | 1199 (toll-free) |
| Mathari National Teaching & Referral Hospital | National referral hospital for mental health, Nairobi | Via 999 / hospital reception |
| Chiromo Hospital Group | Private mental health hospitals and crisis support, Nairobi | Listed on their website |
| Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) | Directory of registered counsellors | kapc.or.ke |
| Kenya Counsellors & Psychologists Board (CPB) | Verify a registered psychologist or counsellor | cpb.go.ke |
If you would like ongoing support from a mental health professional, we encourage you to consult a practitioner registered with the Kenya Counsellors and Psychologists Board (CPB). You can verify a practitioner's registration at cpb.go.ke. The Mind Project does not provide clinical services and does not refer to specific private practitioners, but the CPB register is the authoritative source for finding a qualified, registered professional.
If you are worried about someone, you do not need to have the perfect words. Ask them directly and without judgment how they are doing, listen, and help them connect to one of the services above. Stay with them if they are in immediate danger, and call 999 if their life is at risk.
Seeking help for your mental health is a sign of strength, not weakness. In Kenya, mental health stigma still prevents many people from reaching out. You are not alone, and asking for help is your right — affirmed by the Kenyan Constitution's guarantee of the highest attainable standard of health (Article 43).
This directory is reviewed quarterly to keep contact details current. If you know of a service that should be listed, or a detail that needs updating, please contact editorial@themindproject.africa. Last reviewed: May 2026.
People at risk do not always say so directly. Signs can include talking about wanting to die or being a burden, withdrawing from people, giving away belongings, sleeping much more or much less, increased use of alcohol or other substances, intense hopelessness, or a sudden calm after a period of distress. A clear change from how someone usually is matters more than any single sign.
Ask directly and calmly whether they are thinking about suicide. Asking does not put the idea in someone's head; it shows you care and opens the door to talk. Listen without judging, arguing, or rushing to fix things. Take it seriously, stay with them or stay in contact, and help them connect with support such as a crisis line, a clinician, or a trusted person. If there is immediate danger, contact emergency services and do not leave the person alone.
During a crisis, it helps to reduce access to means of harm and to agree on a simple plan of who to contact and where to go. A clinician or counsellor can help build a fuller safety plan. Recovery is possible, and most people who go through a suicidal crisis go on to live full lives.
Myths get in the way of help, so it is worth knowing the facts. Asking someone directly about suicide does not put the idea in their head; it can ease distress and open the way to support. People who talk about suicide are not simply seeking attention, and should always be taken seriously. A person who suddenly seems calmer is not always safer, since calm can sometimes follow a decision, so it is wise to stay attentive. Suicidal thoughts are not limited to any one kind of person, and they are not a sign of weakness or bad character. Above all, suicide is often preventable, and a crisis usually passes with the right support.
In many communities here, suicide carries deep stigma and is often seen as a moral or spiritual failing, or kept hidden out of shame, which stops people from reaching out and stops families from getting support. It helps to understand a suicidal crisis as a sign of unbearable pain, and a health matter that deserves care and compassion rather than blame. Faith and community can be a genuine source of strength, and that support works best alongside, not instead of, practical help and professional care. Reaching out, whether for yourself or for someone else, is an act of courage.
This page is general information and not a substitute for professional help. Suicide and self-harm are sensitive topics; if reading this raises difficult feelings, please reach out to one of the contacts above.
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone and support is available right now. Befrienders Kenya: +254 722 178 177 · Emergency services: 999 / 112
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