Mental Health Emergency in Nigeria: What to Do

Free, 24/7 Nigerian crisis numbers you can call right now — plus how to tell a real emergency from a scare, and what to do tonight.

In a mental health emergency in Nigeria, call 112 now (767 in Lagos), or reach MANI’s free 24/7 crisis line on 0809 111 6264. If someone is in immediate danger, get to the nearest hospital. You do not have to handle this alone, and help is available this minute.

Call these numbers now

Every line below is free and answers around the clock. Tap to dial:

National emergency (police and ambulance): 112
Lagos State emergency: 767
MANI (Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative) crisis line: 0809 111 6264 or 0811 168 0686
SURPIN (Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative, based at LUTH, Lagos) — number on our directory
Safe Place Nigeria: 0800 800 2000

For the full, regularly checked list, see our helplines directory.

What counts as a mental health emergency?

Treat it as an emergency if you — or someone near you — are facing any of these:

Suicidal thoughts with a plan, or access to the means to act on them
Self-harm, or a strong urge to hurt yourself
An overdose or poisoning of any kind, including swallowing pesticide such as “Sniper”
Psychosis — losing touch with reality, or hearing and seeing things others don’t
Feeling unsafe to yourself or to other people

If any of these apply, don’t wait to see how the night goes. Call a number above, and read more on coping with suicidal thoughts once you’re safe.

What to do right now, tonight

Stay on the line. Call a helpline and keep talking. You don’t have to explain everything — just stay connected.
Don’t be alone. Call one person you trust and ask them to come to you, or to stay on the phone with you.
Remove the means. Move pills, pesticides, sharp objects, and weapons out of reach. Ask someone else to hold them if you can’t.
Get to a hospital. Head to the nearest accident & emergency (A&E) unit or teaching-hospital emergency room.
Breathe. If your thoughts are racing, slow your breathing while help is on the way.

If self-harm is part of what’s happening, our guide on self-harm and getting help explains the next steps.

If it’s someone else in crisis

Ask directly: “Are you thinking of ending your life?” Naming it does not plant the idea — it gives the person room to be honest.
Take every threat seriously, even one that sounds casual or like a joke.
Stay with them. Don’t leave them alone, even briefly.
Remove anything they could use to hurt themselves.
Help them call a crisis line or get to a hospital.
Reassure without promising secrecy. Say you’ll keep them safe — not that you’ll keep it hidden.

For the longer view, see how to support a loved one.

Where to go for emergency care in Nigeria

Nigeria has eight Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospitals — in Yaba (Lagos), Aro (Abeokuta), Kaduna, Enugu, Calabar, Benin, Maiduguri, and Sokoto. Any of them can handle a psychiatric emergency, and so can the A&E unit of any general or teaching hospital near you.

One practical note: ambulances are slow to arrive in many parts of the country, so getting to hospital directly — by car, taxi, or ride-hail — is often the fastest route. Use 112 or 767 for police or ambulance dispatch if you have no other way to move.

Panic attack or emergency? How to tell

A panic attack is frightening — a pounding heart, tight chest, and a sense of doom — but it usually peaks and eases within about 20 minutes and is not dangerous on its own.

Go to A&E if:

Chest pain, fainting, or trouble breathing carries on
You notice stroke-like signs: face drooping, weakness on one side, slurred speech
You can’t be sure it isn’t a heart problem

While you wait, try grounding: name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear. Our guide on handling a panic attack walks through more.

Will I get in trouble for seeking help?

No. Reaching out to a helpline or a hospital is safe and confidential. Nigeria’s National Mental Health Act (2021) treats mental ill-health as a health matter, not a crime, and points the system firmly toward care rather than punishment. Old fears stop far too many people from picking up the phone — please don’t let them stop you.

After the crisis passes: ongoing support

Crisis lines exist to keep you safe tonight. They are not a replacement for the emergency services, and they are not ongoing care. Once you’re stable, the next step is follow-up — a regular therapist or counsellor who can help you build a simple safety plan and work through what led here.

If a doctor thinks medication could help, that’s the work of a psychiatrist — a medical doctor who can prescribe. Mytherapist.ng’s counsellors, psychologists, and therapists offer talk therapy, not prescriptions; if you’re unsure which you need, read therapy or medication.

You can book a licensed Nigerian therapist for video, voice, or chat sessions from ₦3,000. Learn what you’re facing on the suicidal thoughts or depression hubs, and see how to ask for help if reaching out feels hard. This article is not a substitute for emergency services — if you are in danger now, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital.

Reviewed by a licensed clinician

This guide is part of Mytherapist.ng’s crisis resources and is reviewed by a licensed clinician on our team before publication. The numbers and facts here are checked against MANI, SURPIN (LUTH), the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospitals, the World Health Organization, and Nigeria’s National Mental Health Act (2021). Last reviewed: 24 July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What number do I call in a mental health emergency in Nigeria? Call 112 anywhere in Nigeria (767 in Lagos) for emergency dispatch, or MANI’s free 24/7 crisis line on 0809 111 6264 / 0811 168 0686. If someone is in immediate danger, get to the nearest hospital.

Is there a free suicide helpline in Nigeria? Yes. MANI and SURPIN (based at LUTH) both run free, confidential 24/7 crisis lines, and Safe Place Nigeria can be reached on 0800 800 2000. See our full helplines directory.

What counts as a mental health emergency? Suicidal thoughts with a plan or the means to act, self-harm, an overdose or poisoning, psychosis or losing touch with reality, or feeling unsafe to yourself or others. If any of these apply, treat it as an emergency.

What do I do if someone tells me they want to die? Take it seriously, stay with them, and don’t leave them alone. Remove anything they could use to hurt themselves, and help them call a crisis line or get to a hospital.

Can I be arrested for attempting suicide in Nigeria? The focus of help is treatment, not punishment, and the National Mental Health Act (2021) treats this as a health matter. Reaching out to a helpline or hospital is safe — please don’t let fear stop you from getting help.

Is a panic attack a medical emergency? Usually not — most panic attacks peak and ease within about 20 minutes. But go to A&E if chest pain, fainting, or trouble breathing persists, or if you can’t tell it apart from a heart problem.

Browse licensed Nigerian therapists on Mytherapist.ng when you’re ready for ongoing support.