Mental health helplines in Pakistan: a verified list of free numbers (2026)

If someone is in immediate danger in Pakistan, call Rescue 1122 or police on 15. For free counselling, call Taskeen on 0316-8275336 or Rozan on 0304-111-1741 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). In Punjab, dial 15 and press 7 to reach a psychologist.

Helpline lists for Pakistan go out of date quickly. Numbers get disconnected, websites lapse, and old lists keep circulating. Every number below was checked against the organisation's own website, an official government page, or two independent news reports. Where a service could not be confirmed, we left it out.

Last checked: October 2026.

Which mental health helplines are free in Pakistan?

The two free counselling lines we could verify are Taskeen and Rozan. In Punjab, the police emergency number 15 also has a free counselling option (press 7) that connects you to a psychologist. Government lines for women, children and human-rights complaints can help when distress is tied to violence or abuse.

Notes on each service

• Taskeen describes its helpline as free of cost, confidential and anonymous, staffed by qualified clinical psychologists under a clinical supervisor. It does not publish hours, so message the same number on WhatsApp to book a time. Email: help@taskeen.org. (taskeen.org)
• Rozan offers telephone counselling Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, plus email counselling at helpline@rozan.org (reply within ten working days) and in-person sessions in Islamabad, especially for women and children. It is a mobile number, so normal call charges may apply. (rozan.org)
• 15, then 7 (Punjab) was launched in January 2026 by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority. Trained staff connect you to a psychologist by conference call. It is free and your identity is kept confidential. (Express Tribune, APP)
• 1043 is answered by an all-women team, with legal advisers and a psychosocial counsellor. You can also file a complaint online or walk in. (PCSW)
• 1099 is toll-free from anywhere in Pakistan and gives free legal guidance, counselling and referrals. (Ministry of Human Rights)
• 1121 is listed by the Punjab government as the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau helpline. (Punjab government helplines)
• 1166 is the federal toll-free health helpline. A mental health service called Humraaz was announced alongside it in 2023, and UNICEF lists mental health among its priorities, but its current counselling offer isn't published. Treat it as a route to information and referral, not a crisis line. (Dawn, UNICEF)

None of these services publishes a list of the languages it answers in. Taskeen's website is available in Urdu. If you need a particular language, ask at the start of the call.

What should I do in an emergency?

If someone has hurt themselves, has taken an overdose, or says they are about to act on thoughts of suicide, treat it as a medical emergency. Call Rescue 1122 for an ambulance or 15 for police, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Do not wait for a counselling line to open.

• Rescue 1122 covers ambulance, fire and rescue. It is run provincially: by the Punjab government, by the Sindh Emergency Rescue Service (whose teams work around the clock), and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where ambulance services are free for medical emergencies.
• 15 is the police emergency number. From outside Punjab you can reach Punjab's 15 on 042-111-111-015 (Dawn).
• 115 is the Edhi Foundation's emergency number (edhi.org).

While you wait: stay with the person if it is safe, remove anything they could use to hurt themselves, and keep your voice calm. You don't need the right words. Being there is what matters.

What happens when you call a helpline?

A counsellor will usually ask what's going on and listen more than they talk. You don't have to give your name. Calls typically end with a plan for the next few hours and, where useful, a referral to a doctor, psychologist or support service.

It's fine to call even if you aren't in crisis. “I've been feeling low for weeks and don't know who to tell” is a perfectly good reason. If panic is what brought you here, our guide to panic attacks and what to do mid-attack may help in the moment.

When is a helpline enough, and when does therapy help?

A helpline is built for one conversation at a hard moment. If the same feelings keep coming back, or they are affecting your sleep, work or relationships for more than a couple of weeks, ongoing therapy with one licensed professional is usually the better fit.

Therapy lets someone get to know your history and work on the patterns behind the distress over several sessions. Our guides on how to find a therapist in Pakistan and how online therapy works in Pakistan explain the options. For the wider picture, see mental health in Pakistan.

How can I support a friend who is struggling?

Ask directly and listen without rushing to fix things. Asking someone whether they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head; it gives them permission to be honest. Then help them take one concrete next step, such as calling a helpline together.

• Pick a private, unhurried moment and say what you've noticed.
• Avoid “others have it worse” or “just pray more”. These close the conversation down.
• Offer to sit with them while they call Taskeen or Rozan, or to save the numbers in their phone.
• If they say they have a plan or have already hurt themselves, call 1122 or 15. Don't promise to keep that secret.
• Check in again a few days later. One conversation is rarely enough.

Where does Safe Healing fit?

Safe Healing is not an emergency service and cannot respond to a crisis in real time. It offers scheduled online therapy with licensed therapists for adults in Pakistan, for when you want ongoing support rather than a single call.

If that's where you are, a short intake matches you with a therapist. Start the intake. If you are in danger right now, please call Rescue 1122 or 15 instead.

Sources

• Taskeen Health Initiative — helpline
• Taskeen — contact
• Rozan — counseling services
• Express Tribune — Mental health support launched on helpline (January 2026)
• APP — PSCA Helpline-15 offers free mental health counselling (April 2026)
• Punjab Commission on the Status of Women — Helpline 1043
• Punjab Commission on the Status of Women — Government helplines
• Ministry of Human Rights — Toll-free Helpline 1099
• Dawn — Govt launches mental health app and helpline (April 2023)
• UNICEF Pakistan — 1166: Answering Pakistan's call for health (March 2026)
• Rescue 1122 — Government of the Punjab
• Sindh Emergency Rescue Service (Rescue 1122)
• Rescue 1122 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — FAQ
• Dawn — PSCA introduces UAN helpline (May 2026)
• Edhi Foundation