Mental Health Foundation - Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora
Help ensure everyone in Aotearoa has the tools to enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing.
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The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health & wellbeing.
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In Crisis?
In crisis? Here is where you can find help for you or someone important to you. Emergency contact numbers for free, professional emergency assistance right now.
If this is an emergency phone 111
If anyone is in immediate physical danger.
Or go to your nearest hospital emergency department (ED)
Phone your local Mental Health Crisis Team (CATT Team)
Select your region for contact numbers.
If you need to talk to someone else: Free call or text 1737 for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline
0800 543 354
Free text 4357 (HELP)Youthline
0800 376 633
Free text 234Samaritans
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health & wellbeing. Improving individuals, whanau, organisations and communities.
Our whakataukī - Mauri tū, Mauri ora
Mauri refers to the life force or latent energy found in all things. Mauri tū refers to stability and a sense of space for this energy, and in this context covers both communities and individuals. Mauri ora refers to the unleashing of this energy to actively support and create wellbeing.
This kōrero is a constant reminder to the MHF of our commitment to actively supporting individuals and communities to flourish through the unleashing of positive energy and strategies to affect wellbeing.
We help individuals flourish.
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We develop information resources to support people who are worried about their own suicide risk or the suicide risk of someone else.
Suicide is a major public health issue in New Zealand. We want to help you and other New Zealanders understand how we can work together as individuals, whānau, colleagues, neighbours and communities to prevent suicide and support each other to create lives worth living.
To us, that doesn’t mean no one ever goes through a hard time or finds it hard to keep going. It means that when those tough times hit we all have the skills and support we need to get through. That support should be culturally appropriate, recovery-focused, evidence-informed, compassionate and centered around you – your goals, your values, your life and your beliefs.We want New Zealanders to know what puts people at risk of suicide, what warning signs we can all look out for, how to get help for ourselves or someone else and what we can do to prevent people from becoming suicidal. We want our families, whānau and community to feel empowered to care for their loved ones when they need support.
Most of all, we want you to know that suicide is preventable. If you’ve found this page because you’re struggling, we believe you will get better and there is a future for you that is brighter than you can see right now. Go here for immediate help, or here for other support options.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, you’re not alone. You will get through. We have information, including ways to get support, that will help you here.Helplines
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline0800 543 354 or 09 522 2999 or free text 4357 (HELP)
Suicide Prevention Helpline0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOK0)
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The Mental Health Foundation is committed to an Aotearoa where everyone can enjoy good mental health and wellbeing.
What does this mean? It means an Aotearoa where we feel good and do well, most of the time.
It doesn’t mean we don’t experience tough times – it doesn’t even mean that we don’t experience mental illness or distress!
It means we have the tools, support and environments we need to be who are we and to build and sustain lives worth living.
We use two key models of wellbeing to help us understand what we need to do as individuals, whānau, communities and as a society to ensure we can all enjoy good mental wellbeing. These models are
What is mental health?
For many of us, when we talk about mental health we’re really talking about mental illness or mental distress. But, like physical health, mental health is something we all have and we need to look after it. There is no health without mental health.
Good mental health boosts our physical health, creates resilience, helps us to feel happy, confident and secure.
We believe everyone can enjoy good mental health and wellbeing – whether or not you have an experience of or a diagnosis of mental illness.
Our goal is to move everyone – including those who experience mental illness – towards wellbeing. We know this is possible – we see it every day.
Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness or the symptoms of mental illness. The actions we take to address symptoms doesn’t necessarily improve wellbeing. Mental wellbeing is feeling good, functioning well and feeling connected.
Sometimes focusing on mental health and wellbeing can feel too small and simple – especially when you’re going through a tough time. It can feel like advice to connect with others or go for a walk belittles what you’re going through. These things aren’t the whole picture, of course. We still need to have good mental health services, the right support from our whānau, friends and community, less prejudice and discrimination and we need to tackle a whole bunch of big problems like racism, poverty and violence. These are barriers to us feeling and functioning well – lobbying for a community that doesn’t have these barriers is what mental health promotion is doing.
But we can’t wait for these things to happen before we focus on wellbeing. We can’t just focus on removing risk factors and barriers – if we really want to make sure New Zealanders have lives worth living we need to make sure we all have opportunities to connect, grow, learn and build good mental health and wellbeing.
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earn about mental health services and conditions, get tips and tools for sustaining positive mental wellbeing and find ways to get support when going through a difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions - Answers to common questions about mental health or accessing services - Read More
Mental Health Conditions - A handy list of mental health conditions - Read More
Helplines & Support - Helplines for you or someone important to you - Read More
I Need Help Now - Help for you or someone important to you - Read More
Looking after yourself & your family - There are many things you can do towards maintaining your own or someone else’s wellbeing. - Read More
Accessing Mental Health Services - If you need urgent mental health support, call your local mental health crisis team or go to the website - Read More
Community Support Groups - Find free mental health support in your area. See listings of support groups by region and type - Read More
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Supporting someone experiencing mental distress and/or illness
When someone you know is experiencing mental distress or illness, it’s okay to connect with them to offer aroha and support. The person may tell you directly how they are feeling, or you may see, feel or sense that something isn't quite right with them or that their behaviour has changed. You don’t need any special training to support someone – you just need to be able to listen to them. You can reassure the person that they’re not alone, that you care about them, and that support is available (and you can help them to access that support).
'Mental distress’ describes troubling, confusing or out-of-the-ordinary thoughts, feelings and behaviours that a person may experience. They may not feel like their ‘usual selves’. These thoughts, feelings or behaviours may persist over a period of time and disrupt daily life. Mental distress is a common part of life – one in five people in Aotearoa experience it every year.‘Mental illness’ describes a formal mental health diagnosis someone receives from a psychiatrist, such as an anxiety or schizophrenia diagnosis. If a person doesn’t have a formal mental illness diagnosis, don’t use this term to describe their experiences.
Our free, evidence-based suicide prevention and wellbeing resources offer additional guidance and practical information - Access resources
Taking care of yourself
When you spend time caring for someone else it’s important to take care of yourself too. Supporting someone through mental distress or illness can be challenging. You will need to look after your own wellbeing to make sure you have the energy, time and perspective to be there for them. See our information below for self-care tips.
How to offer support
It can feel scary or intimidating to offer support to someone you care about when they are experiencing mental distress or illness. You might feel worried you’ll say or do the wrong thing, but showing care and empathy can make a real difference. Often, the most important thing you can do is simply be there for them.
Give the person your time, and be present without judgement.
Eight tips for supporting someone you care about
1. Set time aside to be with them
2. Encourage them to share what they're going through
3. Listen
4. Acknowledge and validate their feelings
5. You don’t need to have all the answers
6. Talk about self-care
7. Ask if you can help them access professional support
8. Take time out together
If you think someone may be suicidal, ask them. It could save their life. Talking about suicide will not put the thought in their head. Visit our 'Suicide: worried about someone?' page for more information and support.
Keep in mind
There may be times when the person you’re supporting might not want to talk with you. Try not to take this personally. They may feel more comfortable talking with someone who is not close to them (e.g. a counsellor or a GP). Likewise, you may not be in the right space at this time to offer support, and that’s okay. Ask if there’s someone else (e.g. another whānau member or friend) the person could talk with, or if you can help connect them with an organisation or person they trust (e.g. a faith leader, counsellor or kaumatua). See our Help section for further information.
Sometimes people in distress may not want to discuss what's going on with anyone else or seek support. While difficult to accept, this is their current choice. They may change their mind at some point. If you're worried for them and it's impacting your wellbeing, please get support for yourself.
“My whānau were always there for me. Always ready to hear about the strange things happening in my mind. What was going on scared me. But to have the rock of my family helped me through. I didn’t understand all the unusual thoughts and perceptions that were playing out in my mind but to have a solid foundation beneath me, helped me to pull through.” – Individual with lived experience of schizophrenia
Supporting someone who is ready to seek professional help
There are lots of practical things you can do to support someone when they’re ready to seek help from a healthcare professional. For example, you could:
Help them find evidence-based information from reputable sources about what support may work best for them. Visit our ‘Accessing mental health services’ page for more information.
Support them to write a list of questions to ask their healthcare professional.
Help with writing notes that can be shared with a healthcare professional, including details about what the person’s experiencing or feeling and past experiences. Help them organise any relevant paperwork, including prescription information or medical records.
Ask if they’d like you to go to appointments with them. You could take notes or be there for support.
Offer to help with day-to-day tasks, like organising childcare, doing the grocery shopping or helping with housework.
If the person’s received a mental illness diagnosis, try learning about what they’re experiencing, treatment options and how you can support them through it. Visit our ‘A – Z Guide of mental health conditions’ section to learn more. For ways to be more inclusive towards people experiencing mental distress, click here or visit the Nōku te Ao website.
“If you understand more about what someone with mental distress may be going through, then you’ll be more aware of the impact that your words and actions can have on others.” — Someone with experience of mental distress
Visit our FAQs page for answers to common questions about mental health, or how to access mental health services.
Are you concerned someone is self-harming?
"I found having the support of a family member helpful when going through services, as it’s not something I could have done alone in my youth. Services may have changed now, but when I was younger, they felt very overwhelming and intimidating.” — Someone with experience of self-harm
Self-harm or self-injury is the direct, deliberate act of hurting or injuring your body. Often, a person self-harms as they believe it will help them cope with intense, difficult emotions, overwhelming situations and life events. Someone self-harming does not necessarily want to die but is instead responding to emotional pain or attempting to communicate how they’re feeling to others.
If you have noticed scars, marks, or behaviours in someone that concern you (but you are not sure whether the person is self-harming) talk with them. Ask them if they would like to talk about what’s going on for them and be patient.
For more information about self-harm and guidance on how to support someone who is self-harming visit our ‘Self-harm’ page.
Supporting tamariki or rangatahi experiencing mental distress and/or illness
Caring for a tamariki/child or rangatahi/young person experiencing mental distress or illness can be tough for parents, caregivers and wider whānau. Many tamariki and rangatahi may experience mental distress or illness at some stage in their lives, and while some issues may resolve with time, others may need additional support.
You know your tamariki better than anyone. If you're worried about them, first ask yourself: ‘Has there been a significant change in their behaviour?’ If so, consider:
Is this behaviour change caused by any specific events or changes in their life?
Do the changes only happen in the one place – e.g. at home or at kura/school?
Do you notice changes when they're with others or alone?
Signs that your child may be upset or worried about something can include:
Significant changes in their behaviour
Ongoing difficulty with sleeping
Withdrawing from social situations
Not wanting to do things they usually like
Self-harm or neglecting themselves (e.g. poor hygiene).
The tips listed in the ‘How to offer support’ section above can also be used by parents or caregivers supporting tamariki and rangatahi.
If you're worried about, or unsure of how to help, your child, don't hesitate to reach out for advice or guidance – there is support out there. Talk to your GP, school counsellor, or mental healthcare professional, or call a helpline (visit our ‘How to access help section for more information).
Remember, you’re your child’s best advocate, because you know your child best. Help teachers, healthcare professionals and others involved in your child’s life to understand your child, so the best solution can be worked out for them moving forward. Do not give up.
Encourage your child to think about their mental health and wellbeing
Teach tamariki about their mental health and wellbeing from a young age. Vital skills that can be learnt from a young age include:
how to cope with big feelings and emotions
what activities help make us feel good
how we can support each other
what to do when times are tough.
Parents, caregivers, whānau, schools, kura, early childhood centres, tertiary institutes, sports clubs and community groups can all play a part in developing the skills that tamariki and rangatahi need to support good mental health and wellbeing, both for themselves and for others.
Find out more about our education-based wellbeing campaigns, programmes and resources here.
Worried that your tamariki or rangatahi is being bullied?
Visit our Pink Shirt Day website for tips on how to support them.
An antibullying campaign that celebrates diversity and creates more inclusive environments.
Looking after yourself while supporting someone else
Supporting someone you care about with their mental distress and/or illness can be stressful – and sometimes even physically and emotionally demanding. You need to take care of yourself if you want to be there for someone else.
Here are some key strategies to help with self-care:
Eat well and get enough sleep
Do activities that you enjoy
Set your own boundaries, and know your limits
Be mindful about time spent on your phone
Involve other people in supporting the person – you can’t (and shouldn’t) do everything yourself
Share your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust
Acknowledge and celebrate small wins or achievements
Seek support – reach out to whānau, friends, support groups, free helplines, your GP or a counsellor.
You may be the only one supporting the person or you may have had to take on extra responsibilities that can cause you financial, mental or physical stress (e.g. picking up extra household tasks, childcare responsibilities or having to cover extra bills).
Try to:
Identify external assistance that may be available to you (e.g. support from other whānau, government assistance or help from community organisations).
Encourage other trusted people to help with support, either for you or for the person you are helping.
Ask for professional help when you need it. Use an EAP service through your workplace (if applicable), call a free helpline or contact your GP or a counsellor.
Make time for you – find ways to relax and do things that bring you joy.
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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.
For peer support and local, face-to-face groups and organisations, see our community support groups page.National helplines
The services listed in this section are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless otherwise specified.
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 – free text 234, call 0800 376 633, webchat at youthline.co.nz, DM on Instagram @youthlinenz, message on Whats App 09 886 56 96.
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 helplinesHelplines and local mental health services
A directory of helplines and local mental health service contact details.
Helplines for children and young people
Youthline – free text 234, call 0800 376 633, webchat at youthline.co.nz, DM on Instagram @youthlinenz, message on Whats App 09 886 56 96.
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.Support for parents, family and friends
Yellow Brick Road – 0800 732 825 Supporting families towards mental wellbeing: for families who have a loved one experiencing mental health challenges, weekdays 8am – 4.30 pm
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 (leave a message). For information, support and resources about supporting someone with an eating disorder. 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, 9am – 9pm, 7 days a week
Family Works - 04 473 5025 Social work services for families, weekdays 9am – 4pmSupport for culture, place and age groups
Rural support – 0800 787 254 Information and support for rural people, 8am – 6pm, 7 days a week
Seniorline – 0800 725 463 National information service to help older people find their way around the health system, weekdays 8am – 4pm
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, weekdays 9am – 8pm
Vagus Line – 0800 56 76 666 Counselling for the NZ Chinese community, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10am – 2pm
MusicHelps – 0508 MUSICHELPS Counselling and assistance to people in the NZ music communitySexuality 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 communitySexual 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 survivorsAddictions
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 helpGrief and loss
Also see our support group pages for local and face-to-face bereavement support groups
Victim Support – 0800 842 846 Support for people affected by crime and traumatic events, 24/7
The following organisations offer support services during office hours. Please note, they do not run crisis helplines:
Skylight Trust – 0800 299 100 Supporting children, young people and their whānau to navigate through tough times, weekdays 8.30 - 5pm
Aoake te Rā – 0800 000 053 Free counselling for people bereaved by suicide, weekdays 8.30 - 5pm
The Grief Centre– 0800 331 333 For grief counselling, support groups and information about all forms of loss, grief, trauma or difficult change, weekdays 8.30 - 5pm
For more information for whānau, friends and communities after a suicide, also see our website After a SuicideOnline harm
Netsafe – 0508 638 723 Support for online safety, including harassment or bullying, scams and fraud, and harmful digital content, weekdays 8am – 8pm, weekends and public holidays 9am – 5pm
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 therapy courses and resources to support with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep and other mental health challenges
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 moodPeer 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 Warmline – 0800 200 207 Tuesday to Sunday, 7pm to 1am
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 pageFor 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 12 June 2025. For corrections or changes, please email resource@mentalhealth.org.nz
