As an LGBTQ person in a place like Nigeria where presenting the right public face can be the difference between life and death can be exhausting. Not knowing who to talk to puts an emotional strain on you and increases your risk of developing mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Plus there is all the news online of rapes and assaults and extortion by unscrupulous individuals looking to make a quick buck off your sexuality. It can all be very draining.

This is why The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS) has set up a hotline (nearly two years old now, can you imagine) just for you. You can call in (anonymously if you wish) and talk to a counsellor about anything really. So don’t suffer in silence, reach out and get some help, advice, or just unload.

These are the TIERS Helplines.

There is a Hotline, which you should call for emergency situations: 07011472241

And a toll-free helpline (aka if you call them, you won’t get charged for credit) if you just need to unload on someone who cares. :  0800225584377

Both lines are open to the public, 9AM-5PM, Monday to Friday. Please use them, or if you don’t personally need them, send them to someone who does. It might help them.