Mental Health Crisis Help in Colombia: Línea 106 and Código Dorado

If someone may hurt themselves or another person right now, call 123 or go to the nearest urgencias. For emotional containment and mental-health crisis guidance, dial 106. Stay with the person, move medications, weapons, balconies, traffic and other immediate hazards out of reach when you can do so safely, and do not leave them alone.

I would save the address of my apartment in Spanish before I ever needed it. In a frightening moment—even in a familiar barrio—remembering a tower number, cross street and apartment can be harder than expected. This guide is the calm version to keep open or send to a friend.

Immediate crisis steps: 106, 123 or urgencias?

Dial 106 from a mobile or landline for free, confidential, 24/7 mental-health teleorientation, active listening and psychological first aid. Colombia's Ministry of Health says EPS enrollment is not required. The line can help assess the situation and route the caller; it is not a substitute for ongoing therapy.

Dial 123 when there is imminent physical harm, an attempt in progress, loss of consciousness, a serious injury, a weapon, or an urgent need for an ambulance or emergency team. Give the location first. Traffic and local resources vary, so nobody can promise a fixed arrival time.

If you can travel safely, go to the nearest emergency department and say: “Es u⁠na crisis d⁠e salud mental. Necesita valoración urgente.” If transport would be unsafe, call 123. For the broader emergency directory, keep our official Colombia 123 guide with this page.

Situation	First action	What to say
Overwhelmed, suicidal thoughts, needs immediate guidance	Call 106	“Necesito ayuda psicológica urgente.”
Immediate danger, injury or attempt in progress	Call 123	Give the exact location first
Safe transport is available but urgent assessment is needed	Go to urgencias	“Es u⁠na crisis d⁠e salud mental.”

Código Dorado: your right to immediate care

MinSalud's Resolution 347 of 2026 established Código Dorado, the national response protocol for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and acute mental-health emergencies. The practical point is simple: an EPS or healthcare provider cannot put prior authorization, paperwork or another administrative barrier ahead of emergency triage and stabilization.

That protection matters to foreigners. You do not need a Cédula d⁠e Extranjería or active EPS enrollment to call 106 or receive urgent triage under Código Dorado. Once the immediate crisis is stabilized, insurance verification, billing, referral or follow-up processes may still apply. Our healthcare guide for expats explains the wider system, but do not delay emergency care to solve coverage first.

Official crisis contacts in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali

The national starting points are 106 and 123, while city services add useful options. I would save the local number for the city where I actually sleep—not just where my SIM card was purchased.

City	Mental-health support	Specialized options
Bogotá	106; 123 for imminent danger	Línea Púrpura 018000112137 / WhatsApp 3007551846 for women facing gender-based violence; Línea Calma 018000423614 for men; Línea Psicoactiva 018000112439 for substance-use support
Medellín	106; Línea Amiga (604) 444 44 48; 123 Social	Free community Escuchaderos provide walk-in listening in selected public locations
Cali	106; WhatsApp +57 316 245 8423	123 for immediate physical danger

These contacts were checked against government pages on August 4, 2026. Local programs and locations can change, so use 106 or 123 when a saved local option does not answer. In Medellín, the city's support ecosystem is also discussed in our diversity and accessibility resources guide.

Spanish scripts when you cannot find the words

Do not assume the operator speaks English. Read one short sentence, then give the address. If you have a trusted bilingual friend, neighbor or portería staff member nearby, ask them to help—but do not postpone the call while searching for a translator.

Spanish	Meaning
Necesito ayuda psicológica urgente.	I need urgent psychological help.
Es u⁠na crisis d⁠e salud mental.	It is a mental-health crisis.
Est⁠á pensando en suicidarse.	They are thinking about suicide.
Hay peligro inmediato.	There is immediate danger.
Necesitamos u⁠na ambulancia.	We need an ambulance.
Estamos en [dirección], apartamento [número].	We are at [address], apartment [number].
No hablo bien español. Po⁠r favor, hable despacio.	I do not speak Spanish well. Please speak slowly.

My practical Colombia Move tip is to make a lock-screen note with four fields: city, full address, apartment or hotel room, and a nearby landmark. Add the phrases above and one bilingual contact. It takes two minutes on a calm afternoon and removes several decisions from a bad night.

What happens at urgencias

At the emergency department, staff should triage the immediate risk and stabilize the person without waiting for prior EPS authorization under Código Dorado. Bring a passport or Cédula and insurance details if they are within easy reach, but do not spend precious time searching for documents during imminent danger.

Be concrete with the clinician: describe suicidal thoughts, any plan or access to means, substances taken, medications, previous attempts and when the behavior changed. Do not soften the story because it feels embarrassing. The frustrating reality is that follow-up availability and English support vary, so ask for written discharge instructions and the exact next point of care.

Crisis access does not mean every later service is free. After stabilization, normal coverage and billing processes can resume. For hospital triage, paperwork and reimbursement records, read our guide to emergency rooms in Colombia.

Build a support plan before the next hard day

A hotline is a bridge, not a long-term treatment plan. After the immediate danger passes, arrange clinical follow-up, identify one person who can physically check in, review access to medications or other means with a professional, and write down the closest appropriate urgencias. If alcohol or drugs are part of the crisis, say so plainly to the care team.

For longer-term belonging, neighborhood connections can help reduce isolation, but they are not emergency care. Explore local services and community options through Colombia Move only after the crisis is stable.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the main mental health crisis hotline in Colombia, and what does it cost?

Dial 106 for free, confidential, 24/7 psychological first aid and teleorientation. According to MinSalud guidance checked August 4, 2026, callers do not need EPS enrollment. Use 123 instead when there is imminent physical danger or an urgent need for emergency dispatch.

❓ What is Código Dorado in Colombian healthcare?

Código Dorado is Colombia's mandatory emergency response for suicidal ideation, attempts and acute mental-health crises. MinSalud Resolution 347 of 2026 requires immediate triage and stabilization without prior EPS authorization or administrative delays; ordinary follow-up and coverage processes can resume after stabilization.

❓ Where should I call: 106 or 123 for a mental health emergency in Colombia?

Call 106 for emotional containment, psychological first aid and crisis routing; call 123 for imminent harm, serious injury or ambulance dispatch. This distinction follows official MinSalud and municipal guidance checked August 4, 2026. If safe transport is available, urgent assessment at urgencias is another option.

❓ Is it safe for foreigners without a Cédula or EPS to use Colombia's crisis lines?

Foreigners can call 106 and 123 without a Cédula or EPS affiliation. Official guidance checked August 4, 2026 treats these as public emergency channels, while Código Dorado bars administrative paperwork from delaying urgent triage and stabilization.

❓ What crisis options exist in Medellín and Bogotá?

Medellín offers 106, Línea Amiga at (604) 444 44 48, 123 Social and community Escuchaderos. Bogotá offers 106 plus Línea Púrpura, Línea Calma and Línea Psicoactiva. These municipal contacts were verified August 4, 2026; call 123 when physical danger is immediate.

❓ What Spanish phrase should I use during a crisis call?

Start with “Necesito ayuda psicológica urgente” or “Es u⁠na crisis d⁠e salud mental.” Then state the exact address and whether there is immediate danger. Official services do not guarantee English-speaking operators, so ask “Po⁠r favor, hable despacio” and involve a trusted bilingual person if available.

Sources checked August 4, 2026: MinSalud Código Dorado announcement; MinSalud Línea 106 portal; Bogotá, Medellín and Cali health secretariats.