Helplines & Support

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

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)

Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Healthline – 0800 611 116

Samaritans – 0800 726 666 

Depression-specific helplines

Depression and Anxiety Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions)

www.depression.org.nz – includes The Journal online support tool

SPARX.org.nz –  online e-therapy tool provided by the University of Auckland that helps young people learn skills to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed

Sexuality or gender identity helpline

OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) provides confidential telephone support, available evenings from 6pm–9pm.

Online chat support with Rainbow Youth -  is available for anyone aged 13-27 who is looking for guidance, support, or advice around sexuality, gender identity, and intersex status. 2-4pm Monday - Friday, anonymously & confidentially

Helplines for children and young people

Youthline – Free call 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or Web chat from 7pm–10pm

thelowdown.co.nz – or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626 

What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 12noon–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available Monday to Friday from 1pm–10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 3pm–10pm.

Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age. Open 24/7.

Help for parents, family and friends

EDANZ – improving outcomes for people with eating disorders and their families. Freephone 0800 2 EDANZ or 0800 233 269, or in Auckland 09 522 2679. Or 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 Services 211 Helpline –  0800 211 211 for help finding (and direct transfer to) community based health and social support services in your area.

Skylight – Skylight’s specialised services support children, young people, and their whānau, to navigate through times of trauma, loss and grief. We aim to provide the right help, at the right time, in the right way.

Supporting Families In Mental Illness –  For families and whānau supporting a loved one who has a mental illness. Auckland 0800 732 825. Find other regions' contact details here.

Other specialist helplines

0508MUSICHELP – The Wellbeing Service is a 24/7 online, on the phone and in-person counselling service fully funded by the NZ Music Foundation and provided free of charge to those in the Kiwi music community who can't access the help they need due to hardship and other circumstances. Call 0508 MUSICHELP.

Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat

Are You OK – 0800 456 450 family violence helpline

Anxiety phone line – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY) 

Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655

Moneytalks – 0800 345 123. A free and confidential helpline for people experiencing financial hardship. Moneytalks can provide advice on budgeting, bills, debt, loss of income etc. to individuals, family and whānau. Visit www.moneytalks.co.nz, email help@moneytalks.co.nz or txt 4029.

Quit Line – 0800 778 778 smoking cessation help

Rape Crisis – 0800 883 300 (for support after rape or sexual assault)

Seniorline – 0800 725 463 A free information service for older people

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

Shine –  0508 744 633 confidential domestic abuse helpline

Vagus Line – 0800 56 76 666 (Mon, Wed, Fri 12 noon – 2pm). Promote family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence

Women's Refuge Crisisline – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) (for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family) 

Warmlines for consumers of mental health services

Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them

Canterbury and West Coast – 03 379 8415 / 0800 899 276 (1pm to midnight, seven nights)

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

Auckland Central 0508 927 654 or 0508 WARMLINE (8pm to midnight, seven nights)