Accessing Mental Health Services

If you need urgent mental health support, call your local mental health crisis team or go to the Mental Health Foundation Directory. If you’re worried about someone’s immediate physical safety, call 111.

If you're concerned about your mental wellbeing, the best starting point is usually your GP (family doctor)*. GPs are trained to assess, treat and support you to manage your mental health. They can also refer you to community mental health services or specialist, if needed.  

*You have options besides a GP to support you with your mental health; including your local Māori health provider; Whānau Ora provider; Kia Piki te Ora coordinator; marae, hapū or iwi service; a school counsellor or a counselling service. 

Please note, the Mental Health Foundation provides information to help you to make your own choice. It does not recommend or endorse particular services, organisations or individuals. 

Help finding a GP

If you are not registered with a GP and need help to find one

  • Call the national free Healthline service on 0800 611 116
  • Search the Healthpoint database for GPs or specialists in your area 

Community Mental Health Services

Your local community mental health team provides free mental health services. This service is  usually run at the hospital and may include specialist Māori, Pasifika, Adult, Older Persons and Child & Adolescent mental health services. . In most cases, you’ll need to be referred to the service by your GP, who has first assessed and checked if you meet the referral criteria. The community mental health team also run the nationwide Mental Health Crisis service, who you can contact in a mental health emergency. 

How to find a therapist or mental health professional

Accessing low cost mental health care:

  • To find low cost or free counselling in your area search the Family Services Directory or contact your local Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB). 
  • Your GP or health practioner can link you to local low-cost services. They can also support you to apply for a WINZ  disability allowance  that may include access to up to 10 free counselling sessions or to additional funding, if recommended.
  • If you are in paid employment, you may have access to free confidential counselling through your company’s employee assistance programme (EAP) provider – talk to your employer. 
  • Most tertiary institutes (e.g., universities, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa) offer free counselling services. 
  • Local Women’s or Men’s Centres may have details of local low-cost counselling practices or offer low-cost counselling themselves. 
  • Local youth centres often have health hubs that offer counselling services. 
  • ACC funds support following sexual violence, if it occurred in New Zealand. Visit the Find Support website to find an ACC-registered therapist.

Community support groups

You can find free, local community support groups on our database. 

The Mental Health Foundation does not run mental health services or support groups. Our Community Support Group database lists some of the free support groups available without a referral but it is not a comprehensive listing. For more information on services in your area, please speak to your GP. 

Crisis support

If you need urgent mental health support, call your local mental health crisis team. You can find their numbers on our In Crisis page. If you’re worried about your own or someone else's immediate physical safety, call 111.