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What to do when an astrology client says they want to die

A reading can turn in one message, when a client says they cannot go on. This page gives the first steps, helpline numbers taken from government pages, and what never to say.

Updated 2026-11-05

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Short answer

If a client says they want to die or harm themselves, stop the reading, reply calmly and kindly, and tell them to contact a crisis line or emergency services now. In India, Tele-MANAS answers on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416 with multi-language support ², and 112 is the single number for any emergency ⁴. Do not predict, do not offer a remedy and do not try to counsel them yourself. Astrologers on Kismo must point a client in danger to emergency services or a crisis line, and report it to the platform at once ¹.

Life at risk, in India: 112, the single number for all emergencies ⁴
Mental health helpline: Tele-MANAS: 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, toll-free, multi-language ²
Tele-MANAS hours: A 24x7 tele-mental health service ³
A woman facing violence: Women Helpline 181, 24/7 ⁴
A child in crisis: 1098, for any child or an adult calling on their behalf ⁵
A client abroad: Their local emergency services or a local crisis line ¹
Your duty on Kismo: Point them to emergency services or a crisis line, then report it ¹

First steps

What should you do first when a client says they want to die?

When a client says they want to die, stop the reading and respond to the person, not the chart. Your only job in that moment is to help them reach real help quickly.

Reply at once, calmly: 'Thank you for telling me. I am really glad you did. Your safety matters more than this reading.'
Ask whether they are safe right now and whether anyone is with them.
If they are in immediate danger, tell them to call 112 now, or the local emergency number if they are outside India ^1,4.
Give the Tele-MANAS numbers, 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, and tell them they can talk in their own language ².
Encourage them to contact one trusted person nearby: a family member, a friend, a neighbour.
Report the session to the platform as soon as the client has the numbers ¹.

Do not close the chat abruptly once the numbers are shared. Stay kind and present while they take the next step, but do not go back to the reading.

Helplines

Which helpline numbers should an astrologer share in India?

The helpline numbers to share in India are the ones published by the government, and each fits a different situation. Share the one that fits, and 112 whenever a life may be at risk.

Situation	Number	What it is
Any emergency, a life at risk	112	Emergency Response Support System: one number that unifies police (100), fire (101), ambulance (108) and other emergency lines ⁴
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, distress	14416 or 1-800-891-4416	Tele-MANAS, the national tele-mental health helpline, toll-free with multi-language support ^2,3
A woman facing violence	181	Women Helpline, 24/7, with referrals to police, hospitals, legal aid and One Stop Centres ⁴
A child in crisis	1098	Child Helpline, a twenty-four hour emergency outreach service that a child, or an adult for them, can call ⁵

Save these numbers in a note on your phone today, so you never search for them while a client waits. Never share a number you have not checked on a government page.

Recognising it

Which messages in a reading count as a crisis?

A message counts as a crisis when a client says they are thinking of harming themselves, want to die, are being hurt or threatened, or that a child is in danger. Treat it as real every time, even when it sounds like a passing remark.

'Ab jeene ka mann nahi karta' or 'I want to end it.'
'What is the point of anything if he does not come back?'
'My husband beats me and I am scared to go home.'
'If this exam goes badly, I will do something to myself.'
A goodbye that sounds final: 'Thank you for everything, this is my last question.'

You are not diagnosing anyone. You are making sure that a person who may be at risk hears where help is.

The government's note for World Suicide Prevention Day repeats one message: suicide is preventable ⁶. Its theme for 2024 to 2026 asks people to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma and have open, compassionate conversations about suicide ⁶.

What not to say

What should you never say to a client in crisis?

Never tell a client in crisis that their pain is written in the chart, that a remedy will fix it, or that things will surely change by a date. Each of those keeps them inside the reading when they need help outside it.

Never say	Why
'It is your karma' or 'it is in your chart'	It makes despair sound fixed and deserved
'Do this puja and you will feel better'	A remedy is not crisis help, and selling one here exploits pain
'He will come back in March, don't worry'	A promise that fails can deepen the crisis
Anything about a death or a death date	Predicting a death is forbidden for every reader ¹
'Message me on WhatsApp later'	Contact details are never shared, and it moves the client away from real help

Do not try to be the counsellor. A short, kind message that points to trained people is the most useful thing you can write.

Danger from others

What if the client is in danger from someone else?

If the client is in danger from someone else, the first step is the same: emergency help. Tell them to call 112 if they are at risk now ⁴.

For a woman facing violence at home or outside, Women Helpline 181 gives 24/7 support and referrals to police, hospitals, legal aid and One Stop Centres ⁴. For a child in crisis, 1098 can be dialled by the child or by an adult on their behalf ⁵.

Some clients are young. If a client seems to be a minor and in danger, give 1098 and 112 and report it, whatever the reading was about.

After the moment

Should you continue the reading after a client mentions self-harm?

No, the reading should not continue in the same session after a client mentions self-harm, even if they ask. Answering their love or career question as if nothing happened tells them the crisis was not serious.

You can say: 'I would be happy to read for you another day. Right now, please call Tele-MANAS on 14416. They are trained for exactly this.' If the client comes back later and is safe, a gentle, ordinary reading is fine.

Tele-MANAS was set up to reach anybody who reaches out, across India, at any time, with a 24x7 tele-mental health facility in each state and union territory ³. The government's September 2025 note counts 53 Tele-MANAS cells across 36 states and union territories ⁶.

Your wellbeing

How do you look after yourself after a session like this?

Look after yourself after a crisis session by taking a break before the next client. Go offline, step away from the screen and talk to someone you trust about how it felt, without sharing the client's details.

It is normal to keep thinking about the client. Pointing them to help was the right thing to do; what happens next is in the hands of trained people and the client's own circle.

Tele-MANAS is not only for clients. Its aim is universal access to mental health care, so you can call 14416 yourself if a session leaves you shaken ³.

On Kismo

What does Kismo require when a client is in crisis?

Every astrologer on Kismo must tell a client who is in danger, or thinking about harming themselves, to contact local emergency services or a crisis line, and must report it to the platform immediately ¹.

The same rules forbid predicting any death, commenting on a pregnancy's outcome and giving medical advice, so a crisis is never answered with a prediction or a remedy ¹. Sharing a phone number or social handle to 'stay in touch' is not allowed either.

Write to support@kismo.app with the time of the session and what the client said, as soon as the client has the helpline numbers. For other hard sessions, read how to handle difficult clients.

Questions

What do astrologers ask about this?

Is Tele-MANAS free to call?

Yes. Tele-MANAS numbers 14416 and 1-800-891-4416 are toll-free, offer multi-language support and connect callers with mental health professionals ². The service runs 24x7 ³, and it includes call-backs for follow-up ².

What if a client in crisis lives outside India?

Tell them to contact the emergency services or a crisis line where they live, which is exactly what the agreement on Kismo asks for ¹. If you do not know the number for their country, do not guess one; ask them to dial their local emergency number now.

Should I keep it secret if the client asks me not to tell anyone?

No, not when someone may be at risk. Astrologers on Kismo must report a client in danger to the platform ¹. You can say kindly: 'I care about your safety, so I need to let the support team know.'

Can I tell a suicidal client their chart shows the bad time will end soon?

Not in that moment. Even a hopeful prediction keeps the focus on the chart when the client needs a person. Share the helpline, encourage them to reach someone nearby, and leave predictions for another day when they are safe.

What if I think the client is only joking about suicide?

Respond as if it is real. Sharing 14416 and 112 costs nothing if they were joking, and it can matter enormously if they were not. Keep the tone warm: 'I want to make sure you are okay.'

Am I responsible if something happens to the client afterwards?

You are responsible for responding well: pointing the client to help quickly and kindly, and reporting it. You are not a counsellor and cannot control what another person does. Those steps are what the rules ask of every reader.

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