213,000 Student Calls Highlight Growing Mental Health Crisis in SA

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One free phone call, one campus at a time, SADAG’s free university Helplines have been a source of support for university students facing their hardest moments far from home, under financial and academic pressure, and unsure where to turn.

Johannesburg, South Africa (24 June 2026) – While most students manage to find their way in university, thousands of others struggle quietly, in desperate need of real support. More concerning, only a few students facing mental health challenges ever receive treatment, often held back by the high cost of care, the heavy stigma surrounding mental illness, or simply not knowing where to turn for help.

Supporting Students During Their Hardest Moments

According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), up to 3,000 South Africans reach out for help every day. Behind those numbers are real students; young people carrying the overwhelming weight of academic stress, financial strain, and personal hardships, all while trying to build a future.

SADAG’s free, confidential campus Helplines have become one of the most important safety nets in higher education.

The numbers tell a striking story. In the South Africa National Student Mental Health Survey, more than 70,000 students across 17 universities took part. It found that 16.3% of students met the criteria for a mood disorder, either major depression or bipolar disorder, in the month before they were surveyed, while 10.9% were living with generalised anxiety disorder.

One in five reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Researchers estimate that, at any given time, between 20% and 30% of students have a diagnosable Mental Health condition.

Numbers alone don’t capture how many of those students face their hardest moments far from home, under financial and academic pressure, and unsure where to turn. That is exactly what SADAG’s university Helplines were built for.

For more than a decade, SADAG has run these dedicated, toll-free Helplines for students at universities and colleges around the country. The Helplines are free, confidential and answered around the clock by trained counsellors.

A student in crisis at two in the morning, the night before an exam, can speak to someone straight away, receive immediate support and be connected to campus and community services. For those who find it hard to talk, many Helplines also offer WhatsApp and SMS callback options.

Working with Institutions to Meet Students’ Needs

SADAG partners with multiple institutions, among them are the University of Cape Town, the University of Pretoria, the University of the Free State, the University of the Western Cape, Tshwane University of Technology, North-West University, Eduvos, STADIO, SACAP, Discovery Health Medical Students and Young Doctors, and the Motsepe Foundation Bursary Students.

Each Helpline is shaped around the needs of its own campus, and several extend support to staff as well as students. Together, they make up one of the largest student Mental Health support networks in the country.

Over 213,000 Calls Answered in a Year

The need keeps growing. Over the past year, SADAG’s campus Helplines have answered and supported over 213,000 calls from students in 2025, often busiest around exams and registration. For many students, these Helplines are a first point of contact with Mental Support, and for some, the only one they can afford.

Behind every one of those calls is a young person whose year, and sometimes whose life, turned on the simple fact that someone answered. For many, a single conversation is enough to steady them. For others, it is the first step into ongoing care. In the past year alone, SADAG counsellors guided over 55,000 students who were in crisis.

“Students reach out to us for all kinds of reasons, some in crisis, many just needing someone to talk to before things get heavier,” says Linda Khoza, Project Manager at SADAG.

“What they find on the other end of the Helpline is someone who listens, takes them seriously and helps them find the next step. We believe no student should have to give up on their studies or themselves simply because they have no one to turn to. That is why these Helplines matter, and why we remain committed to keeping them open and free.”

Students who need support can reach SADAG seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The SADAG Mental Health Helpline for Higher Health is 0800 36 36 36. Students at partner universities can call their dedicated campus Helpline, listed below. Every call is free and confidential