Helpful Organisations
Posted On: December 9, 2024
If you, or someone you love is in immediate need of help or support, here are a list of organisations and websites that are available to reach out to. Whether you need someone to talk to or are in need of crisis support, many of these New Zealand based organisations offer free helplines, peer support and in-person services to help get you through the fog.
1737 - Need To Talk
1737 is free to call or txt, any time, 24 hours a day. You’ll get to talk or text a trained counsellor or talk to a peer support worker. The service is absolutely free. The 1737 team is culturally diverse, and 1:1 counselling support is also available.
Lifeline - Mental Health Support & Counselling
Lifeline Aotearoa has been helping New Zealanders in distress and crisis for over 60 years.
Lifeline offers multiple free community helplines, 0800 LIFELINE, Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 TAUTOKO, and a txt support service HELP (4357). The teams are based in Auckland and Christchurch and Lifeline also offers corporate training through their Lifeline Connect service.
Taranaki Retreat
Taranaki Retreat supports people when times are tough: rebuilding the village. Their approach is peer-led – in other words, humans helping humans. Based in New Plymouth, Waimanako is a community-based sober socialising space offering peer support, workshops, life coaching and creative spaces. The Retreat also offers a place to go for people in the community who are needing a break. Whether you are dealing with crisis, distress, suicidal thoughts or raw grief – Taranaki Retreat is a great time-out space with a network of skilled people and allied services.
The Lowdown
The Lowdown is a space created with rangatahi, for rangatahi. The Lowdown offers support for hauora, identity, culture and mental health. The Lowdown is part of a national public health programme (the National Depression Initiative) and has been created to reduce the impact of depression on the lives of New Zealanders.
Depression Org
Depression Org is lovingly managed by the dedicated team at Te Whatu Ora | Health Promotion. Depression Org offers a hub of understanding, validation and practical advice for those navigating depression and anxiety. Their mission is to lessen the impact of these challenges on New Zealanders’ lives by promoting early recognition, encouraging help seeking and fostering supportive communities.
Emerge Aotearoa
Emerge Aotearoa supports the oranga (holistic wellbeing) of tāngata whaiora and whānau across Aotearoa. Emerge Aoteaora provides services for mental health and disability, housing support, addiction support and peer support services.
