Details checked 3 November 2026

Mental health services in Kaduna State

The federal psychiatric hospital at Barnawa, ABUTH in Zaria, the state's own community centres, and a free helpline that answers in Hausa.

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Getting help in Kaduna State

Where to start

The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital at Barnawa, opposite Shagari Low Cost, runs a psychiatric emergency unit 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It has a child and adolescent clinic, treats drug problems with rehabilitation, and offers clinical psychology and occupational therapy. It is also the nearest specialist psychiatric hospital for the FCT, Niger, Plateau and Nasarawa.

Kaduna has its own state agency for mental health and drug use, KADSAMHSA. The state government says it runs 20 free community drop-in centres inside primary health centres and a residential treatment and recovery centre that opened in May 2024. In September 2025 the state passed a Mental Health Law to replace the Lunacy Act of 1958.

Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital at Shika, Zaria, lists psychiatry among its services, so it is worth asking there if Barnawa is far.

Hausa is widely spoken across the state, alongside many languages in southern Kaduna. The NDLEA's free helpline offers support in Hausa for anyone affected by drug use. Most Mytherapist.ng therapists work in English for now, and every session is online, from Zaria to Kafanchan.

2 services

Psychiatric hospitals and clinics

Federal neuropsychiatric hospital · Barnawa

Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna

  • Psychiatric emergency unit open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Outpatient care for adults, and a child and adolescent clinic
  • Drug treatment and rehabilitation
  • Care for older people, clinical psychology and occupational therapy
  • Telepsychiatry
Opposite Shagari Low Cost, Barnawa, Kaduna
0803 272 2243 · emergency crisis line

The hospital lists this as its 24/7 emergency crisis line and as its enquiries line (8am to 4pm).

fnphkaduna.gov.ng

Details from the institution's own website, checked 3 November 2026.

Federal teaching hospital · Shika, Zaria

Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH)

  • Psychiatry is listed among the hospital's services
Shika, Zaria
ABUTH's website gives conflicting numbers, so we don't list one yet.

Details from the institution's own website, checked 3 November 2026.

1 service

State programmes and community care

State agency · Kaduna

Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (KADSAMHSA)

  • Coordinates care for mental health, neurological and drug use problems in the state
  • Free community drop-in centres inside primary health centres
  • A residential treatment and recovery centre, opened in May 2024
  • Checks that rehab centres in the state meet quality standards
Maccido Dalhat State Secretariat, Independence Way, Kaduna (head office)
0814 621 1112 · agency line

The agency's site gives conflicting numbers for a 24-hour crisis line, so treat this as an office line.

kdsg.gov.ng

Details from the institution's own website, checked 3 November 2026.

1 service

Help with drugs and alcohol

Federal drug agency centre · Kaduna

NDLEA Kaduna Command counselling and rehabilitation centre

  • Counselling and psychosocial support
  • Help returning to work, school and family life

For people who aren't physically dependent, or who have finished a medically supervised withdrawal. Anyone dependent on alcohol, sedatives or opioids should see a hospital first.

Olusegun Obasanjo Secretariat, Yakubu Gowon Road, Kaduna
0800 1020 3040 · NDLEA helpline, free

No number for the centre itself. The NDLEA helpline can confirm the address.

ndlea.gov.ng

Details from the institution's own website, checked 3 November 2026.

Free or low-cost lines

Lines you can call from anywhere in Nigeria

These answer callers in Kaduna State and across the country. The full list, including lines for violence and trafficking, is on our helplines page.

  • National emergency number

    If someone is in danger right now. The nationwide rollout isn't finished, so if 112 doesn't connect, go to the nearest hospital emergency unit.

    112 (toll-free)

    Police, fire and ambulance

  • Safe Place Nigeria

    Trained counsellors from She Writes Woman. Anyone in Nigeria can call, and you don't need call credit.

  • Lagos Lifeline

    Free crisis support and counselling from the Lagos State Ministry of Health. Open to anyone in Nigeria, not only Lagos.

  • SURPIN

    Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative. Trained counsellors for emotional support and crisis help.

    0800 078 77460908 021 7555

    Its site says its toll-free line is answered 24 hours

  • MANI (Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative)

    A mental health charity. Its "Get help now" button opens WhatsApp.

    0916 841 7413 (WhatsApp)0809 111 6264

    Hours aren't published on its site

  • NDLEA drug helpline

    Support for anyone affected by drug use, their own or someone else's. In English, Pidgin, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

Talking therapy

Online therapy from anywhere in Kaduna State

Hospitals are the place for emergencies, admission and medication. For talking therapy, Mytherapist.ng sessions happen by video, voice or chat, so you can see a licensed therapist from home in Kaduna State without waiting for a clinic day.

Find a therapist

Good to know

Getting help in Kaduna State: common questions

Is the Barnawa psychiatric hospital open at night?

Yes. The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, says its psychiatric emergency unit runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What is KADSAMHSA?

The Kaduna State Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency. The state government says it coordinates care for mental, neurological and drug use problems, runs free community drop-in centres in primary health centres, and checks that rehab centres in the state meet quality standards.

Does Kaduna have a mental health law?

Yes. The state government says Kaduna enacted a State Mental Health Law on 18 September 2025, replacing the Lunacy Act of 1958.

Keep reading

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