Helplines and mental health services

To help connect people with their local communities for specific or wider support.

It’s okay to reach out for help – never hesitate if you are concerned about yourself or someone else.

Kia mau ki te tūmanako, te whakapono me te aroha
Hold fast to hope, faith and love

In a crisis or emergency

If someone has attempted suicide or you’re worried about their immediate safety, do the following:

• Call your local mental health crisis assessment team (numbers are further below) or go with them to the emergency department (ED) of your nearest hospital
• If they are in immediate physical danger to themselves or others, call 111
• Stay with them until support arrives
• Remove any obvious means of suicide they might use (e.g. ropes, pills, guns, car keys, knives.)
• Try to stay calm, take some deep breaths. Let them know you care
• Keep them talking: listen and ask questions without judging
• Make sure you are safe.

​More information and support

For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, medical centre, hauora, community mental health team, school counsellor or counselling service.

If you don’t get the help you need the first time, keep trying.

Below is a list of some services available which offer support, information and help

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737
Talk with a trained counsellor, anytime.

For counselling and support

• Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP) –- for counselling and support
• Samaritans 0800 726 666 – for confidential support for anyone who is lonely or in emotional distress
• Depression Helpline 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 – to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions www.depression.org.nz
• Healthline 0800 611 116 – for advice from trained registered nurses
• Covid-19 Healthline 0800 358 5453 – for Covid-19 health advice and information

All services are free, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless otherwise stated.

For children and young people

• Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat at www.youthline.co.nz (available 4.30pm – 10pm) – for young people and their parents, whānau and friends
• What’s Up 0800 942 8787 (0800 WHATSUP) or webchat at www.whatsup.co.nz from 5pm – 10pm for 5-18 year olds
• www.thelowdown.co.nz visit the website or free text 5626 – for support for young people experiencing depression or anxiety
• www.auntydee.co.nz – a free online tool for anyone who needs help working through problems
• www.sparx.org.nz – an online self-help tool that teaches young people the key skills needed to help combat depression and anxiety
• Aroha chatbot – tiny.cc/aroha – a chatbot to help young people (13–24 years) cope with stress and maintain social connections

Help for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people

• NZ Relay www.nzrelay.co.nz – helps users to connect with services over the phone
• NZ Police 111TXT www.police.govt.nz – Register with the New Zealand Police for the 111TXT service
• TXT, messenger, online chat – many services in this brochure offer txt, messenger or online chat services
• depression.org.nz/get-better/your-identity/deaf – more help and information for the Deaf community

For help with specific issues

• 0508 TAUTOKO Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 – if you, or someone you know, may be thinking about suicide, call for support from a trained counsellor
• OUTLine 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) – for sexuality or gender identity issues (10am – 9pm Monday to Friday, and 6pm – 9pm weekends)
• Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797, free text 8681 or online chat at alcoholdrughelp.org.nz – for people dealing with alcohol or other drug problems
• Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655, free text 8006 – or online chat at www.gamblinghelpline.co.nz – for help if you are gambling or are concerned about someone else’s gambling
• He Waka Tapu 0800 439 276 (0800 HEYBRO) – for men who feel they are going to harm a loved one or whanau member
• Vaka Tautua 0800 652 535 (0800 OLA LELEI) – free national Pacific helpline. Mon-Fri 8.30am - 5pm
• Anxiety Helpline 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)
• Aoake te Rā 0800 000 053 – free counselling for people bereaved by suicide. See www.aoaketera.org.nz
• Rural Support 0800 787 254 – for people in rural communities dealing with financial or personal challenges
• Shakti Crisis Line 0800 742 584 (0800 SHAKTI) – for migrant or refugee women living with family violence
• Rape Crisis 0800 883 300 – for support after rape or sexual assault
• 24/7 HELPline 0800 623 1700 www.helpauckland.org.nz – support for sexual abuse survivors
• PlunketLine 0800 933 922 – support for parents, including mothers experiencing post-natal depression
• Women’s Refuge Crisis Line 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) – for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family
• EDANZ 0800 233 269 or www.ed.org.nz – for information, support and resources about supporting someone with an eating disorder
• Asian Family Services 0800 862 342 help@asianfamilyservices.nz – provides professional, confidential support in multiple languages to Asians living in New Zealand, Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm
• www.smallsteps.org.nz – a collection of online tools to help you calm your mind, manage your stress and lift your mood

For families, whānau and support workers

• Skylight 0800 299 100 – for support through trauma, loss and grief (8.30am – 4.30pm weekdays)
• Yellow Brick Road 0800 732 825 (Northern Region) 0800 555 434 (Central North Island) 0800 876 682 (South Island) – for families and whānau supporting a loved one who has a mental illness
• The Grief Centre 0800 331 333 www.griefcentre.org.nz – for support for all forms of loss, grief, trauma or difficult change
• Victim support 0800 842 846 – 24 hour support for people affected by crime, trauma and suicide
• Le Va www.leva.co.nz or www.facebook.com/LeVaPasifika – information and support for Pasifika families on mental health, addiction and suicide prevention
• After a Suicide www.afterasuicide.nz – a website offering practical information and guidance to people who have lost someone to suicide
• Mental Health Foundation www.mentalhealth.org.nz – for more information about supporting someone in distress, looking after your own mental health and working toward recovery

Mental health crisis team contact numbers

Phone numbers are subject to change. If you are concerned about someone and the number you are calling is not working, call 1737 and ask to be put through to the crisis team in your area. If you’re in danger right now, please call 111.

To find local services, check out

• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor, anytime
• Healthline 0800 611 116 – for advice from trained registered nurses, including information about local health services throughout New Zealand.
• Family and Community Services National Directory www.familyservices.govt.nz/directory – for information about community services that can help with issues relating to parenting, special needs, family support, family violence, custody and access, child behaviour, life skills, counselling, addiction, sexual abuse, grief and loss
• Māori Health Provider Directory www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/Māori-health-provider-directory – there a number of Māori health providers contracted to District Health Boards, or iwi and kaupapa Māori organisations that work independently throughout Aotearoa – contact a provider in your area to find out more about what is available in your area
• Healthpoint www.healthpoint.co.nz – for up to date information about healthcare providers, referral expectations, services offered and common treatments

For more information about supports and services in your area contact the Mental Health Foundation resource and information service during office hours:

www.mentalhealth.org.nz
info@mentalhealth.org.nz
09 623 4812