Helplines & Support

Below is a list of some of the services available in New Zealand that offer support, information and help.
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Helpline services are available right now in New Zealand that offer support, information and help for you and your parents, family, whānau and friends.

All the services listed here are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless otherwise specified.

For peer support and local, face-to-face groups and organisations, see our community support groups page.

National helplines

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor

Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat

Samaritans – 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

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)

Anxiety NZ – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)

Healthline – 0800 611 116 Health advice from professional healthcare providers

Find a Helpline – Search for international helplines
Helplines Brochure

Helplines and local mental health services

A directory of helplines and local mental health service contact details.

Helplines for children and young people

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat

What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available every day, 11am–11pm, online chat 11am–10:30pm

Also see some of the online options in Apps and online platforms below.

Help for parents, family and friends

Yellow Brick Road – Supporting families towards mental wellbeing: for families who have a loved one experiencing mental health challenges

Plunketline – 0800 933 922 Free parent helpline and advice service available to all families, whānau and caregivers

EDANZ – 0800 2 EDANZ or 0800 233 269, or Auckland 09 522 2679. Improving outcomes for people with eating disorders and their families. Email info@ed.org.nz

Parent Help – 0800 568 856 For parents/whānau seeking support, advice and practical strategies on all parenting concerns. Anonymous, non-judgemental and confidential

Family Works - 04 473 5025 (weekdays 9am - 4pm) Social work services for families

Support for culture, place and age groups

Rural support – 0800 787 254 Information and support for rural people

Seniorline – 0800 725 463 National information service to help older people find their way around the health system. Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm

Vaka Tautua – 0800 OLA LELEI or 0800 652 535 National Pacific Helpline

Le Va – Information and support for Pasifika families on mental health, addiction and suicide prevention

Asian Family Services – 0800 862 342 Professional, confidential support in multiple languages to Asians living in NZ, Mon-Fri 9am – 8pm

Vagus Line – 0800 56 76 666 Counselling for the NZ Chinese community

MusicHelps – 0508 MUSICHELPS Counselling and assistance to people in the NZ music community

Sexuality or gender identity

OutLine Aotearoa – 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) Confidential telephone support and online chat support between 6pm and 9pm every day

Rainbow Youth – Support and information for rainbow young people, their whānau and communities

Family violence

Women’s Refuge Crisis Line – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) For women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family

Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 (0800 SHAKTI) Multilingual helpline for migrant or refugee women living with family violence

Are You Ok Family violence info line – 0800 456 450 To talk about family violence and find help for yourself or others

Shine – 0508 744 633 Confidential family violence support, information and advice to the community

Sexual violence

Safe To Talk – 0800 044 334 or text 4334 Sexual harm helpline

National Rape & Sexual Abuse Crisis Line – 0800 883 300 Support after rape or sexual assault

24/7 HELPline – 0800 623 1700 or txt 8236 Support for sexual abuse survivors

Addictions

Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat. For people dealing with alcohol or other drug problems. Māori, Pasifika and youth lines available

Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655 For help if you are gambling or are concerned about someone else’s gambling. Māori, Pasifika and youth lines available

Quit Line – 0800 778 778 Smoking cessation help

Grief and loss

Also see our support group pages for local and face-to-face bereavement support groups

Skylight Trust – 0800 299 100 Supporting children, young people and their whānau to navigate through tough times

Aoake te Rā – 0800 000 053 Free counselling for people bereaved by suicide

The Grief Centre – 0800 331 333 For support for all forms of loss, grief, trauma or difficult change

Victim Support – 0800 842 846 Support for people affected by crime and traumatic events, including suicide

After a Suicide – information after a suicide for whānau, friends and communities

Online harm

Netsafe – 0508 638 723 Support for online safety, including harassment or bullying, scams and fraud, and harmful digital content

Apps and online platforms

Please see a comprehensive listing of apps for various mental health and wellbeing topics at Healthify.

Just a thought – Free online courses, resources and tools to learn about depression, anxiety and stress and improve your wellbeing

The Lowdown – A space for rangatahi / young people to find support for your hauora, identity, culture and mental health

Aunty Dee – A free tool for anyone who needs help working through problems

Sparx – An online game to help young people who are feeling down

Headstrong – A free app for young people to help you cope with stress. Includes the Aroha chatbot.

Smallsteps – A collection of online tools to help you calm your mind, manage your stress and lift your mood

Aroā wellbeing – A wellbeing space created by rangatahi for rangatahi with free online tools and information

Peer support for people experiencing mental illness

Talk to someone  with lived experience of mental illness or distress who is trained to provide support

1737 Peer Support – Call 1737 and select the ‘peer support’ option in the first stage of the call (daily between 2pm and 10pm)

Wellington – 0800 200 207 (7pm to 1am, Tuesday to Sunday)

Auckland Central – 0508 927 654 or 0508 WARMLINE (5pm to 11pm, every day)

Find local and face-to-face groups on our community support groups page

For more information, and to find local services

Family Services Directory – To help you find local community services to support you with all manner of issues such as parenting, special needs, family support, family violence, custody and access, child behaviour, life skills, counselling, addiction, sexual abuse, grief and loss and more

Wellbeing support – Find local support services through the Access and Choice programme, which can provide people with support and guidance through challenging times

Healthpoint – Find a health provider in your region and for your health concern. Up-to-date information about healthcare providers, referral expectations and services offered.
Seach for kaupapa Māori health providers here

Citizens Advice Bureau – For advice and information on your rights and obligations, and local services and support

Also visit your local library or community centre.

Last updated 17 Jan 2025. For corrections or changes, please email resource@mentalhealth.org.nz