National Sources of Help & Information
Help for depression
Emergency help
Mental health services
Psychologists & mental health practitioners
Telephone counselling & helplines
Self help, resources, & consumer organisations
Services for Māori & Pacific Island Peoples
Services for young people
Support groups
Disclaimer: This directory is designed for information purposes only. The BluePages team is not responsible for, and does not necessarily endorse or recommend the practitioners and services listed here. Although the BluePages team strives to keep the directory up to date, no guarantee is given about the relevance and accuracy of the directory listings provided. Directory last reviewed: 8th September, 2009.
Emergency help
See the NZ Ministry of Health webpage for information on accessing mental health services: www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/mentalhealth-access
In the hardcopy white pages of the telephone book, turn to the last green striped section at the front entitled 'Hospital and other Health Service providers'
- In that section, look for a listing for the local hospital or District Health Board and locate 'Mental Health services' or, in some cases, 'Psychiatric services' and phone that number to ask for advice.
- In some areas there may be a listing for CATT (Community Assessment and Treatment Team) or a Crisis Assessment Team. If so, phone the appropriate number. If there is no response (after hours) then phone the hospital 'Mental Health' number or the main number for the hospital for advice.
Mental health services
Contact your General Practitioner or Primary Care Health Provider for a referral to an appropriate mental health service.
Te Kaitataki Oranga Mental Health Commission
Web: www.mhc.govt.nz
Provides independent advice to the NZ Government on how well mental health and addiction services are meeting the needs of the people. See the website for information about mental health services in New Zealand.
Family & Community Services National Directory
Web: www.familyservices.govt.nz/directory/index.jsp
A directory of support organisations in New Zealand. Select your region on the map and click on 'Mental Health' to find a mental health service in your region.
Health Pages
Web: www.healthpages.co.nz
A searchable database of medical specialists, community services and health support groups, and health services.
Health Point
Web: www.healthpoint.co.nz
A directory of health information and services. Click on 'mental health' to find public and private mental health services in New Zealand.
Web Health directory
Tel: 0800 WEBHEALTH (932 432)
Web: www.webhealth.co.nz
A searchable database of local, information and resources related to health and wellbeing. Type in 'mental health' and select your area to find a local mental health service in New Zealand.
Psychologists & mental health practitioners
Everybody
Web: www.everybody.co.nz
Visit this website to find a support group, health professional, and mental health resources.
Talking Works
Web: www.talkingworks.co.nz
talkingworks is building a nationwide directory of professional counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychologists. All practitioners listed in the directory belong to an appropriate Professional Association.
Telephone counselling & helplines
Depression Helpline
Free call: 0800 111 757
Web: www.depression.org.nz
Call the Depression Helpline to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions.
Lifeline
Free call: 0800 543 354 (24 hour service)
Web: www.lifeline.co.nz
Free, professional and confidential telephone counselling service. Can provide affordable face to face counselling in Auckland.
Mensline
Tel: 0800 MENSLINE or 0800 636 754
Web: www.mensline.org.au
A confidential and free telephone counselling service specifically tailored to meet the counselling and support needs of men. Mensline operates from 6:30pm to 10:30pm on weeknights.
Kidsline
Tel: 0800 KIDSLINE or 0800 543 754
Free and confidential telephone counselling service designed for children. It is staffed between 4pm and 7pm on school nights by trained year 12 and 13 volunteer counsellors called Kidsline Buddies.
Chinese Lifeline
Tel: 0800 888 880
Web: http://chineselifeline.org.nz
Provides a confidential and free telephone counselling and support service for Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. Volunteers are highly skilled counsellors who speak these languages.
Refugee Lifeline
Burmese: 0800 88 66 45
Farsi/Dari: 0800 88 66 46
Arabic: 0800 88 66 47
Web: www.lifeline.org.nz/Refugee_Lifeline_124.aspx
A free, professional and confidential telephone counselling service that provides emotional support living in New Zealand who have arrived as refugees. The service is offered in Burmese, Farsi, Dari, and Arabic languages. Please see the website for hours of operation and for more information about the service.
Youthline
Free call: 0800 37 66 33
Free, confidential, non-judgemental telephone counselling service.
What's Up
Free call: 0800 WHATSUP or 0800 942 8787
Telephone counselling service for 5 to 18 year olds. Calls are answered by trained and supervised professional counsellors. Operates from noon to midnight.
Self help, resources, and consumer organisations
Balance NZ: Bipolar & Depression Network
Web: www.balance.org.nz
A charitable trust that provides support, education, advocacy and training to people (tangata whaiora) affected by bipolar disorder or depression in New Zealand.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Free call: 0800 FOR CAB
Web: www.cab.org.nz
An independent community organisation whose member bureaux and specialist services around New Zealand provide information, advice, advocacy and support to individuals. The services are free, impartial and confidential. Visit the website to find a local CAB service.
CARE NZ – Drug and Alcohol Counselling Service
Tel: 0800 CARENZ (0800 499 469)
Web: www.carenz.co.nz
For anyone with affected by alcoholism or drug abuse. CARNE NZ is staffed by trained and qualified alcohol and drug counsellors who have many years of experience in working with people who need help.
e-couch Personal Self Help
Web: www.ecouch.anu.edu.au
An interactive, evidence-based, self help program that includes modules for social anxiety and generalised anxiety, as well as depression. It provides self help interventions drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity. e-couch is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
MoodGYM Training Program
Web: www.moodgym.anu.edu.au
An interactive, evidence-based program for depression which incorporates cognitive behavioural therapy. Research has found MoodGYM to be helpful in reducing symptoms of depression in users (See Online Prevention). MoodGYM is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
Mental Health Foundation of NZ
Web: www.mentalhealth.org.nz
Provides free information and training, and advocate for policies and services that support people with experience of mental illness, and also their families/whanau and friends.
Working Well
Web: www.mentalhealth.org.nz
An initiative by the Mental Health Foundation to create mentally healthy and productive workplaces. Provides in-house workshops and presentations targeting the needs and character of each organisation.
Help for Māori & Pacific Island Peoples
Raeburn House
Web: www.raeburnhouse.org.nz
Provides and maintains a database of support services. Click on 'Support Services', then 'Maori' or 'Pacific Island Peoples' and select 'Mental Health' to find relevant mental health services in New Zealand.
Te Rau Matatini
Web: www.matatini.co.nz
A national Maori health workforce development organisation that aims to enhance whanau ora, mental health and wellbeing. The website includes information on health and wellbeing, as a national list of mental health and addiction services. See www.matatini.co.nz/cms_display.php?sn=31&st=1&pg=450 to find a mental health and addiction service in your region.
Help for young people
Headspace
Web: www.headspace.org.nz
A community online resource aimed at providing information about mental health and illness for young people, their family/whanau and their schools. The website includes information on Maori and Pacifica mental health.
Kidsline
Tel: 0800 KIDSLINE or 0800 543 754
Free and confidential telephone counselling service designed for children. It is staffed between 4pm and 7pm on school nights by trained year 12 and 13 volunteer counsellors called Kidsline Buddies.
The LowDown
Free text: 5626 (from midday to midnight, 7 days a week)
Web: www.thelowdown.co.nz
The website is designed for young people in New Zealand. It provides information, personal stories, multimedia, and a moderated message board.
What's Up
Free call: 0800 WHATSUP or 0800 942 8787
Telephone counselling service for 5 to 18 year olds. Calls are answered by trained and supervised professional counsellors. Operates from noon to midnight.
Youthline
Free call: 0800 37 66 33
Free, confidential, non-judgemental telephone counselling service.
Support groups
BlueBoard Bulletin Board
Web: www.blueboard.anu.edu.au
An online support group for people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. It aims to reduce stigma, and to provide support, hope and opportunities for sharing successful coping strategies. The group is run as a moderated bulletin board with strict protocols to enhance safety and privacy. Forums for carers are also available. BlueBoard is developed and delivered by the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
Everybody
Web: www.everybody.co.nz
Visit this website to find a support group, health professional, and mental health resources.
Grow
Web: http://grow.org.nz
Provides weekly group meetings throughout New Zealand for people with depression. Visit the website for contact details of your nearest Grow Centre.