Mental Health Help & Suicide Prevention Helplines in Nepal (1166)

If you are having thoughts of suicide, or you are worried about someone who is, please reach out today. You do not have to explain everything or have the right words. Trained counsellors listen without judgement, keep what you say confidential, and can help you get through the next few hours and days.

The first number to know is 1166, Nepal's National Suicide Prevention Helpline. It is a free, telephone counselling and referral service for anyone at risk of suicide or in emotional distress, and it is intended to be answered around the clock. The service is hosted by the Mental Hospital in Lagankhel, Lalitpur, under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and operational support from the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Nepal.

If someone has already harmed themselves, has taken an overdose, or is in immediate danger of ending their life, this is a medical emergency. Call an ambulance on 102, call the police on 100, or take the person straight to the nearest hospital emergency department. Do not wait for the feeling to pass on its own. For the full list of national emergency and health lines, see our Nepal emergency and helpline numbers directory and the Nepal health emergency directory on this site.

Alongside the national 1166 line, several hospitals and organisations run their own mental health and suicide-prevention helplines. Numbers, hours and staffing change over time, and different published lists sometimes disagree, so treat the numbers below as a starting point and confirm the current number before you rely on it. If any line does not connect, try 1166, or call 102 for an ambulance in an emergency.

The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Maharajgunj and Patan Hospital (Patan Academy of Health Sciences) in Lalitpur both run suicide-prevention and crisis helplines that are widely reported to operate 24 hours, staffed by psychiatrists and psychologists. TPO Nepal, which also helps run the national line, offers free and confidential phone support, and the Centre for Mental Health and Counselling (CMC) Nepal provides counselling through its offices during working hours.

These services are confidential and are there for anyone: the person in crisis, but also friends, family members and colleagues who are worried and unsure what to do.

Suicide can often be prevented when the warning signs are noticed and taken seriously. Not everyone who is struggling shows clear signs, and many people who feel suicidal still go about daily life, so any sign is worth a gentle, caring conversation. Take particular notice if several signs appear together, or if they follow a painful event such as a loss, relationship breakdown, financial crisis, exam failure, abuse or a serious illness.

Warning signs can be things a person says, does, or feels. Talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless or trapped, or being a burden to others should always be taken seriously, even if it sounds indirect or is said in passing. Withdrawing from family and friends, giving away possessions, a sudden calm after a period of deep distress, or increased use of alcohol or drugs can also be signals.

If you notice these signs in yourself, please treat them as a reason to reach out today rather than something to be ashamed of. If you notice them in someone else, do not assume someone else will step in.

If you believe someone is in immediate danger, act calmly and stay with them. The goal is to keep the person safe until professional help takes over. You do not need to be a counsellor; your presence and willingness to help can save a life.

First, reach out for professional help straight away: call 1166 for crisis counselling, or 102 for an ambulance if there is a medical emergency such as an injury or overdose, or take the person to the nearest hospital emergency department. Second, do not leave the person alone while they are at high risk. Third, gently remove access to means of harm where you safely can, such as medicines, pesticides, sharp objects, ropes or firearms, as reducing access to means is one of the most effective ways to prevent a suicide.

Stay with the person, listen more than you speak, and keep them talking until help arrives. Avoid arguing, lecturing, or promising to keep a plan for suicide a secret. If they have taken a substance, do not wait for symptoms; get medical help immediately, as some overdoses become dangerous only after several hours.

Many people worry that asking about suicide will put the idea in someone's head. Research and WHO guidance show the opposite: asking directly and with care can bring relief and open the door to help. You can ask something simple and honest, such as, are you thinking about ending your life? This gives the person permission to be truthful.

Listen without judging, blaming or minimising. Avoid phrases like just be strong or others have it worse. Instead, acknowledge their pain, thank them for telling you, and remind them that these feelings can change and that help is available. Offer practical help, such as sitting with them while they call 1166, going with them to a health post or hospital, or helping them make a follow-up appointment.

Supporting someone in crisis is emotionally heavy, so look after yourself too. Share the responsibility with other trusted family members or a professional, and do not try to carry it entirely alone. Follow up in the days and weeks afterwards, because the period after a crisis is a time of continued risk.

Suicidal thoughts are often a symptom of an underlying and treatable problem, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, harmful alcohol or drug use, or an overwhelming life crisis. These conditions are common, they are nobody's fault, and they respond to treatment. With counselling, medication where needed, and support, most people who once felt there was no way out go on to recover and rebuild their lives.

Mental health care in Nepal has expanded in recent years. Basic mental health services and some medicines are increasingly available through government health facilities, and psychosocial counsellors work in many districts. Major hospitals such as the Mental Hospital in Lagankhel, TU Teaching Hospital and Patan Hospital have psychiatry departments, and organisations like TPO Nepal and CMC Nepal provide community-based counselling and support.

If cost or distance is a worry, start with the free 1166 helpline or your nearest government health post; counsellors can guide you to affordable, local options and, where you qualify, to free care under national health schemes.

Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to help in Nepal. Fear of being judged, gossiped about, or seen as weak or dangerous stops many people from speaking up until they are in crisis. Yet mental health conditions are as real as physical illnesses, and needing support with them is normal and human. In Nepali culture, phrases like man ta ke ke bhaneko (whatever the mind is saying) can hide real suffering that deserves care.

How we talk about suicide matters. Speaking with compassion, avoiding blame, and not describing suicide in graphic or sensational detail can help protect vulnerable people. Sharing accurate information, such as that suicide is preventable and help is available, and telling stories of recovery, encourages others to reach out.

You can help reduce stigma by treating a friend's mental health the way you would treat a broken leg: with concern, patience and practical support. Checking in on people, listening without judgement, and normalising the idea of talking to a counsellor can save lives long before a crisis begins.