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Before You Say Yes — International Resources

This is the live version of the resources page printed at the back of Before You Say Yes. Every entry below was last independently checked on 6 September 2026. If a number or link is wrong, please tell us at info@faithfulpathcommunity.com so it can be corrected for everyone.

This page lists places to begin. It cannot list everything, and helpline numbers, hours and websites change. If you are not in immediate danger and can search safely, begin with the global directories below; they are maintained by the services themselves. If you are in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service or move to the safest available place without delaying to search this page.

A note on safety. If you think your phone or internet activity is being watched, use a safer device — one the other person has never used — to visit these websites or make these calls, and do not leave this page open. If you cannot identify a safer device, contact a specialist abuse service when you can do so safely. Do not immediately delete monitoring software, clear shared accounts or change settings; visible changes may alert the person monitoring you. See Chapter 19 and When to Seek Help in the book.

Emergency numbers

Numbers may change or operate differently by region, network or type of emergency. Confirm the appropriate local number when it is safe to do so.

Global directories

Crisis and emotional support

If you are thinking about harming yourself or not wanting to live.

Hours, languages, eligibility, confidentiality and call charges vary. A line listed as 24/7 may still experience delays or temporary interruption. If one service does not answer and you cannot remain safe, try another service or contact emergency help. Note the difference between a crisis line (trained to respond to immediate risk), a listening service (emotional support), an emergency mental-health service (clinical assessment) and a general counselling line; they do not all provide the same intervention.

United Kingdom — Samaritans (listening service, all ages): 116 123, free, 24/7 · samaritans.org
Ireland — Samaritans: 116 123, free, 24/7
United States — 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 · 988lifeline.org
Canada — 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 · 988.ca
Australia — Lifeline (crisis line): 13 11 14, 24/7 · lifeline.org.au
New Zealand — Need to Talk?: call or text 1737, 24/7
South Africa — SADAG Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567 · sadag.org
Kenya — Befrienders Kenya: see befrienders.org for the current number
Nigeria and Ghana — see findahelpline.com for current lines
India — Tele-MANAS (government mental-health helpline): 14416, 24/7
Philippines — National Center for Mental Health crisis line: 1553 from a landline; mobile numbers are listed at findahelpline.com/countries/ph
Singapore — Samaritans of Singapore: 1767, 24/7 · sos.org.sg
Thailand — Department of Mental Health: 1323, free, 24/7; primarily Thai, with English assistance reported as available. Samaritans of Thailand: samaritansthailand.org (Thai and English; hours vary)

Domestic abuse, coercion and sexual violence

If you are afraid of the person you are dating, or have been controlled, threatened, followed, hit or sexually pressured. Services are labelled by who they support and whether they are independent or part of the police or government, because some readers will not be ready to involve the police.

United Kingdom — National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge (independent; primarily for women): 0808 2000 247, free, 24/7 · nationaldahelpline.org.uk. Men's Advice Line (independent; for men): 0808 8010 327. Rape Crisis England & Wales (independent; all genders): 0808 500 2222, 24/7
Ireland — Women's Aid (independent; for women): 1800 341 900, 24/7
United States — National Domestic Violence Hotline (independent; all genders): 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788 · thehotline.org
Canada — ShelterSafe (independent directory of shelters and provincial lines): sheltersafe.ca
Australia — 1800RESPECT (government-funded; all genders): 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, 24/7 · 1800respect.org.au
New Zealand — Women's Refuge (independent; for women): 0800 733 843, 24/7. Shine (independent; all genders): 0508 744 633
South Africa — Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (government, Department of Social Development; all genders): 0800 428 428, or dial *120*7867# for a call-back, 24/7 · gbv.org.za. TEARS Foundation (independent): *134*7355# · tears.co.za
Kenya — National GBV Helpline, run by Healthcare Assistance Kenya (independent; all genders): 1195, toll-free, 24/7
Nigeria — Services vary by state. For current national and local options, begin with lila.help or findahelpline.com. In Lagos, the official Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (government): 0800 033 3333 · lagosdsva.org
Ghana — DOVVSU, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, is a specialist unit within the Ghana Police Service; find the nearest current contact through police.gov.gh. For independent support, use lila.help
India — Women Helpline: 181 where operational; emergency assistance 112. Check lila.help for current state-level services
Philippines — see lila.help for current services
Singapore — National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (government; all genders): 1800 777 0000, 24/7. AWARE Women's Helpline (independent; for women): 1800 777 5555
Thailand — Social Assistance Centre hotline, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (government; all genders): 1300, 24/7; connects to hospital One Stop Crisis Centres

Forced marriage and family-based coercion

If you are being pressured into a marriage, or fear punishment, removal or travel abroad for refusing one. Do not approach the family, arrange mediation or announce your plans unless a specialist familiar with forced marriage has advised that it is safe. Family involvement can increase risk or accelerate travel and marriage plans.

United Kingdom — Karma Nirvana (independent; honour-based abuse and forced marriage, all genders): 0800 5999 247 · karmanirvana.org.uk. Forced Marriage Unit (government): 020 7008 0151 · gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage
Australia — My Blue Sky, run by Anti-Slavery Australia (independent): mybluesky.org.au
United States — Tahirih Justice Center, Forced Marriage Initiative (independent): tahirih.org
Elsewhere — lila.help lists forced-marriage services by country. Where no specialist service is listed, contact a domestic-abuse service and ask whether it can refer you.

Debt and money

Free, non-judgemental debt advice, distinct from commercial financial advisers.

Finding a counsellor

Regulation differs by country, and sometimes by state or province. Before booking, check the person's qualification, professional membership or licence, relevant experience, supervision, ethical code and complaints process — the questions are in When to Seek Help.

A Christian counselling association may help you assess faith alignment, but membership does not replace recognised clinical training or professional accountability.

A note on this list

This list was independently checked in September 2026, but numbers, hours and services can change. Find a Helpline and Lila.help are periodically maintained global directories, but no printed or online directory can guarantee immediate availability. If one contact does not work, try another verified service. If you are in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service or move to the safest available place. A disconnected number does not mean that help is unavailable.