Act now when safety is at risk
Mental Health Emergency Help in India
A mental health crisis can become a medical and safety emergency. Use this page to recognise immediate danger and take the next safe step.
This page cannot provide emergency response. If danger is immediate, call 112 now or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
When to get emergency help now
- A suicide attempt, a stated plan or intent to die, or access to something that could cause serious harm
- Threats or actions that may seriously harm another person
- Severe confusion, extreme agitation, violent behaviour, or being unable to recognise familiar people or surroundings
- Hearing voices that command harmful actions, or beliefs that are leading to unsafe behaviour
- Suspected overdose, loss of consciousness, seizure, severe alcohol or drug withdrawal, or serious breathing difficulty
- A person who cannot meet immediate needs for food, water, shelter, or basic safety because of their mental state
When you are unsure whether the situation is dangerous, choose safety and seek urgent professional assessment.
What to do
- Call India’s emergency number 112 and clearly state the location and immediate danger, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department
- Stay with the person if it is safe for you to do so; speak slowly and use short, calm sentences
- Reduce access to obvious means of harm only when this can be done safely; do not put yourself in danger
- Tell responders about medicines, alcohol or drug use, recent injuries, pregnancy, diabetes, seizures, or other medical conditions
- Do not argue about unusual beliefs, shame the person, crowd them, make sudden movements, or attempt physical restraint unless trained responders direct it
Tele-MANAS mental health support
Tele-MANAS is India’s government-supported 24×7 tele-mental-health service. Call 14416 or 1800-89-14416 for counselling, guidance and links to further care.
Tele-MANAS is valuable for mental health support, but it does not replace 112 or hospital emergency care when someone is in immediate danger.
After the immediate crisis
- Arrange timely review by a qualified mental health professional
- Write down what happened, medicines or substances involved, sleep changes and advice given by the emergency team
- Follow the discharge or safety plan and attend recommended follow-up
- Make sure the main caregiver also has support and rest
Related guides
Sources and review
How this guide was prepared
Prepared by the Dr H N Roy Mental Health Awareness Initiative editorial team from the public-health sources below. Last editorial review: 14 September 2026.
Medical-review status: General educational content; no individual clinical reviewer is named. Do not use this page as diagnosis or personalised medical advice.
- Government of India: Emergency Response Support System 112
- Government of India, DGHS: National Mental Health Programme and Tele-MANAS
- National Institute of Mental Health: Understanding psychosis