Helplines and Support
Creation date: 2/8/2024 11:08 am
Updated: 2/8/2024 11:08 am
Sometimes life can throw us difficult times and challenges in, and outside of the workplace. You may from time to time experience stress, workplace harassment or bullying, feelings of diminished self esteem, anxiety, or loneliness. If you are experiencing a difficult time, or are feeling mentally unwell, know that you are not alone in your journey.
If you wanted to, and feel comfortable doing so, you are able to log an incident report in Engage and select the 'Aggression / Violence' incident type. Incidents with this type selected work differently to our standard notification procedure. These will not appear on your Incidents listing page on your employee bio, they will not notify yourself or your manager, they will only notify the Branch Health and Safety representatives for your branch selected on the incident.
To check who the branch H&S contacts are, you can click on Health & Safety / H&S Contacts. The employees listed here will be the ones to receive the notification and be able to investigate your logged incident.
We also recommend talking to your manager or someone you feel comfortable talking to in the workplace, reaching out to your workplaces' EAP system if they have one in place, or booking an appointment with your GP. We have also included a list of support phone lines below which are all free and available in New Zealand.
The following helplines are available for you to text or call for support (the following numbers have been taken from https://mentalhealth.org.nz/helplines#:~:text=National%20helplines,co.nz%20or%20online%20chat for reference):
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).
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).
OutLine Aotearoa– 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) provides confidential telephone support and online chat support between 6pm-9pm every day.
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available every day of the week, 365 days of the year, 11am–11pm. Online chat is available from 11am–10:30pm 7 days a week, including all public holidays.
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.
Are You OK – 0800 456 450 family violence helpline.
Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655
Anxiety NZ – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY).
Seniorline – 0800 725 463 A free information service for older people.
0508MUSICHELPS – 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.
Shine – 0508 744 633 confidential domestic abuse helpline.
Quit Line – 0800 778 778 smoking cessation help.
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).
Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 (for migrant or refugee women living with family violence).
Safe to Talk – 0800 044 334 or free text 4334 for help to do with sexual harm. Available 24/7 and staffed by trained counsellors.
Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655
Anxiety NZ – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY).
Seniorline – 0800 725 463 A free information service for older people.
0508MUSICHELPS – 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.
Shine – 0508 744 633 confidential domestic abuse helpline.
Quit Line – 0800 778 778 smoking cessation help.
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).
Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 (for migrant or refugee women living with family violence).
Safe to Talk – 0800 044 334 or free text 4334 for help to do with sexual harm. Available 24/7 and staffed by trained counsellors.
1737 Peer Support Call 1737 and select the ‘peer support’ option in the first stage of the call (Daily between 2pm-10pm).
This is an extensive list that covers a lot of scenarios, but can at times feel overwhelming. If you are unsure where to start, a simple text to 1737 can help to guide you in the right direction.
If you are looking for mental wellbeing exercises for yourself and your team, you can consider the following:
- Explore the 5 Ways to Wellbeing for your workplace: https://mentalhealth.org.nz/resources/resource/five-ways-to-wellbeing-at-work-toolkit
- Ensuring you have an EAP system in place, and that this is easily accessible for your staff
- Encouraging walks on breaks, or sitting outside when the weather is nice
- Consider sending managers on an Open Minds free e-learning course to help give them the tools to communicate about mental health safely and confidently to their team https://mentalhealth.org.nz/workplaces/open-minds
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