Mental health support

1737(external link)
Need to talk? Free call or text any time 24 hours a day. You’ll get to talk to (or text with) a trained counsellor or talk to a peer support(external link) worker. The service is completely free.

0800 What’s Up?(external link)
Free professional counselling line for children and youth aged 5 to 18 years, with a chat service on the website. Phone:0800‑942‑8787

A Girl Called Hope(external link)
This service works with young women ≥16 years old facing mental health challenges. They provide well‑being support; build skills, resilience, and self-esteem; and run a variety of personal development courses, such as "Pathways to Hope(external link)(external link)" and "Wellbeing Skills Short Courses(external link)(external link)".

Amigos Peer Support Group(external link)
A series of peer run and led groups made up of people who have experienced mental distress and are interested in connecting with other adults of all ages who have had similar experiences for:

• friendship
• to help in their recovery
• as a stepping stone to integration with the community.

Aoake te Rā – Bereaved by suicide service(external link)
A free service that provides therapeutic support to anyone impacted by suicide loss. Their providers offer a brief therapeutic response that supports individuals and whānau who have lost someone to suicide, helping them to honour their grief and letting it find a place in their adjusted future. Phone 0800 000053 or email [email protected].

Anxiety NZ(external link)
Phone (09) 846 9776, freephone 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389) day or night, or email [email protected]. Support for family members or friends of people living with anxiety disorders and related issues.

Aroā Wellbeing(external link) Te Aka Whai Ora, NZ (2023)
An online resource and activities library developed by rangatahi Māori, for rangatahi Māori, to support young people to improve their oranga wellbeing

(external link)Asian and ethnic health service(external link)
This service was created to help Health New Zealand – Waitematā provide accessible, culturally appropriate, and effective care for the growing Asian migrant and refugee communities.

Atareira(external link)
Atareira is a not-for-profit non-government agency with a forty-five-year history of providing community based mental health and addictions support to individuals, whānau, child and youth and transitional housing in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. Phone (04) 499 1049 or email [email protected].

Autism NZ(external link)
Empowers the autistic and autism communities to make informed choices and take action: every step together. They provide services and support, education and information on autism for autistic people and family/whānau, caregivers, and professionals who engage with them. Phone 0800 AUTISM (288 476) or email [email protected].

Balance Aotearoa(external link)
A Whanganui-based mental health peer support agency providing free, confidential advocacy, education, and support for people with lived experience of mental distress or addiction. Their approach is rooted in peer-to-peer connection and empathy, focusing on recovery rather than diagnosis. They offer individual, group, and system-level advocacy. Phone 06 3454488, 0800 102555 or email [email protected].

Common Ground(external link)  
A website to assist parents, whānau, and friends to recognise and understand the difficult situations that young people experience in their lives.

Depression Helpline(external link)
Free confidential support for depression and anxiety provided by trained counsellors, available 24 hours, 7 days. This support is only available within Aotearoa New Zealand and users overseas should seek help from their local health care provider or emergency services in their country. Phone 0800 111 757 free text 4202

Family Mental Health Support Inc South Canterbury(external link)
Phone 0800 732 000 or email [email protected].
A free support service that offers a range of support options that might include information and education about mental illness and addiction, problem-solving, crisis planning and liaison/advocacy with other services. Referrals come from all sources, including self referrals.

GROW Mental Health(external link)
Phone 09-8466869. They offer support groups and access to a tried and true mental health program. There is no joining fee. They find workable solutions for people that need help.

Te Puna Manawa Trust(external link)
The Youth Health Hub is a FREE health service for young people aged 12-24 years living in West Auckland, North Shore, and Rodney. Phone 09 836 2329 or 0800 562 023.

Lifeline(external link)
0800 LIFELINE and Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 TAUTOKO, and our text support service HELP (4357). Their mission is to reduce distress and save lives by providing safe, accessible, effective, professional and innovative services. They work specifically to increase awareness and understanding of suicide prevention in New Zealand, reduce the associated stigma, and work with others to contribute positively to the health and social sector.

Nōku te Ao(external link)
A nationwide programme to end prejudice and discrimination against people with experience of mental distress. Email [email protected].

LinkPeople(external link)
Phone 0800 932 432. A community housing provider that works with people experiencing homelessness or exiting recovery settings to find a stable home, keep their home and thrive in the community.

Man Alive/Tāne Ora(external link)
Phone 09 835 0509 or 0800 826 376. 
A specialist living without violence organisation working with men, families and whānau affected by family violence and is dedicated to working on the issues that affect their lives.

MASH Trust(external link)
Freephone 0800 627 4878 or email [email protected]. Provides a wide range of support services for approximately 1900 people with mental health conditions, disabilities, alcohol and addiction struggles, and youth support. Their services are offered in a number of settings including day programmes, support in people’s own homes, support within MASH homes, and support in the community. 

(external link)Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS)(external link)
A free and confidential service for anyone experiencing mental distress and/or an addiction. Phone (03) 365 9479, text 022 370 8055, mobile 022 370 8055, rural phone 0800 437 324, or email [email protected].

Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand(external link)
Phone 09 623 4810 or email [email protected]. 
Empowering people to lift their mental wellbeing and support one another through tough times. They also advocate for a better mental health system and society - and hold governments to account for progress.

Piki(external link)
Piki is available to rangatahi 18 to 25 years of age living in the Greater Wellington region. Piki is a Māori word meaning both to support or aid, and to climb or ascend. Piki offers free access to: easy and personalised access to therapy at a convenient place and time; links to 24/7 support through phone and web services and trained peer supporters. You can contact them through their support page(external link).

Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a Rua Incorporated(external link)
Phone 06 374 6860 or email [email protected]. Provides a wide range of support services to whānau ranging from alcohol & drug, smoking, mental health, asthma to screening in the Tararua region. 

Samaritans Aotearoa New Zealand(external link)
Freephone 24-hour helpline on 0800 726 666. For non-judgemental, confidential support to anyone who is lonely or in emotional distress.

Skylight Trust(external link)
Phone 0800 299 100 or +64 4 939 6767 or email [email protected]. A New Zealand charity that supports children, young people, and whānau through tough times by providing counselling, resources, and programmes.

Step Ahead(external link)
A place of acceptance and well-being for those with mental health conditions in Waitaha/Canterbury. Phone 0800 688 732 or email [email protected].

Te Kaha o Te Rangatahi Trust(external link)
A one stop shop youth hub for Māori and Pacific rangatahi living in Counties Manukau and Auckland districts. A variety of free services focus on youth health, wellness, education, employment and development. Phone 09 267 6300.

The Lowdown(external link)
(or freetext 5626) Free text 5626 or email [email protected]. Online chat, self tests, email support, advice on what to do if you think you or a friend are experiencing depression and more.

Tend app(external link)
A free online mental health service available nationwide through the Tend app. You can book a free 30-minute video consultation with a health improvement practitioner and receive practical tools plus a personalised action plan to help you move forward. Same-day appointments are available on weekdays from 8am to 8pm. Open to anyone aged 16 and over. No enrolment, referrals, or paperwork required.

Yellow Brick Road (external link)
Phone 0800 732 825 (Auckland) or 0800 876 682 (Christchurch). Provides self evaluation, resources, videos, regional services, events, brochures, free support, education and information for family and whanau.