HealthInfo Canterbury
Getting help for stress
Whai āwhina mō te pōkaikaha
The following people and organisations may be able to help you with stress.
Friends, whānau (family) and others
Start talking to the people around you. You may be surprised at how they can help.
New Zealanders often feel that stress is a sign of weakness and they're the only ones struggling. But mostly this is not true.
Talk to your friends, whānau (family), sporting coaches, the leaders in your faith community, your workmates and your spouse. Everyone finds life challenging at times. The more you talk to others, the more you'll realise that everyone struggles to balance the challenges of life at times.
If you choose people who are supportive, kind and non-judgemental, they might be able to offer some insights that make it easier for you to manage. Take a risk with the people in your life and open up.
General practice team
Your general practice team can offer support and advice with managing stress. They can help you work out if the tips on the earlier pages in this section can help, or if you need some help from mental health professionals or medication.
Counsellor or psychologist
If, despite making changes, you're finding it difficult to cope, you might consider paying to see a private counsellor or psychologist. You can find a counsellor or therapist through the Mental Health Education and Resource Centre (MHERC) on in the Family Services Directory. Or your general practice team might be able to help you find options that suit your budget.
Other health professionals
Some physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and chiropractors have an interest in helping with stress management.
Online help
- Managing stress, anxiety and depression from the University of Auckland's CALM (Computer Assisted Learning for the Mind) website has instructions and audio clips to help with dealing with stress.
- Skylight has information about coping with anxiety.
- Just a Thought has free online courses for people with anxiety and depression. The courses take six to eight weeks to complete.
- Small Steps is a set of tools to help with feelings of anxiety, stress, or low mood.
Phone helplines
- 1737, need to talk? – Phone 1737 or 0800-1737-1737 or txt 1737 (available 24/7). Trained counsellors who use proven behavioural support techniques.
- Depression Helpline – Phone 0800-111-757 or txt 4202 (available 24/7). Trained counsellors who can talk you through your problems and suggest help in your area.
- Lifeline – Phone 0800-543-354 (available 24/7). Free confidential professional counselling service.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2020.
SourcesReview key: HISTS-111503
