Local Support Services

Opening up about mental health can be difficult for some people. Fortunately there’s lots of help out there to help you or those in your team. 

National helplines:

• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor, anytime 
  
• Lifeline – 0800 543 354 for counselling and support 
  
• Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 for support from trained counsellors 
  
• Youthline – 0800 37 66 33, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz for young people, and their parents, whānau and friends 
  
• Samaritans – 0800 726 666 for confidential support to anyone who is lonely or in emotional distress 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 
  
• Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) for people in distress, and people who are worried about someone else 

Canterbury providers:

The Mental Health Education & Resource Centre (MHERC)  

• MHERC provides a free mental health library for everyone in Christchurch and the South Island of New Zealand, including the Canterbury Mental Health Directory.
  
• MHERC also provide a range of courses. Find out more on their website.  

Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS)

• MHAPS  assist people with mental distress/illness or addiction; offering advocacy, support groups, workshops, info. Find out more on their website.  
  

Canterbury Support Line  

• If you are finding it hard to cope and need support you can ring the Earthquake Support Line on  0800 777 846.  
  

Chamber of Commerce  

The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce have released a Wellness Matters Programme for workplaces. Find out more on their website.

General Practice

• Your GP team can also be a great place to contact if you need some extra support. 

Get advice about workplace issues:

• Employer Advice Line - 0800 805 405 for free advice for employers and managers on how to support team members with a disability or health condition, including mental health. Call for support within normal business hours (8am – 6pm working days) 
  
• Employment Relations Authority – 0800 20 90 20 for general queries on employment relations
  
• Citizen’s Advice Bureau – 0800 367 222 (0800 FOR CAB) for information and advice 
  
• Human Rights Commission – 0800 496 877 for advice or to make a complaint about discrimination Your 
  
• Employee Assistance Programme for counselling and support 
  
• Your workplace union for workplace support

Workplace wellbeing support

Red Cross

• The Red Cross offers a range of training for workplaces, including;   
  
• Psychological first aid training which builds the capacity of people to support others after an emergency occurs.  
  
• Workplace First Aid lets your team learn at a time and location that is convenient for you, and reduces time spent away from the workplace.  
  

Mental Health Foundation  

• 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.  They have recently produced a guide to workplace wellbeing, Working Well.

Get support online

• depression.org.nz includes The Journal, a free online self-help tool, and includes specific advice on helping someone at work 
  
• Netsafe – www.netsafe.org.nz for advice on how to stay safe online

Support around sexuality or gender identity 

• OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE), www.outline.org.nz for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. Free phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, and weekends/holidays 6pm – 9pm 

Find support around alcohol and drugs

• Alcohol Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or text 8681 for a free and confidential chat with a trained counsellor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 
  

For support around domestic violence

• Family Violence Information Line – 0800 456 450 for information as well as services in your own region. The phoneline operates 9am – 11pm every day of the year