Resources

NATIONAL HELPLINES:

Immediate danger:

Depression-specific helplines:

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)
www.depression.org.nz – includes The Journal online help service
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

Help for parents, family and friends:

Plunketline – A toll-free parent helpline and advice service available to all families, whānau and caregivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 0800 933 922 for parenting help. Calls are free from cell phones.
Plunket Family Centres – Plunket Family Centres provide a free service, offering practical support and information on different whānau topics: 09 489 9778
Commonground – a website hub providing parents, family, whānau and friends with access to information, tools and support to help a young person who is struggling
Parent Help – Helpline for support, advice and help on how best to support your family – 0800 568 856
Family Services 211 Helpline – 0800 211 211 for help finding (and direct transfer to) community based health and social support services in your area
Family Start – An intensive home visiting programme, focused on tamariki. The programme works with whānau to improve a child’s health, learning and relationships.
Birthright – Support for one-parent families – 04 802 5377
Skylight – 0800 299 100 (for support through trauma, loss and grief; 9am-5pm weekdays)
Yellow Brick Road - supporting Families In Mental Illness – 0800 732 825 (for families and whānau supporting a loved one who has a mental illness)
Bellyful – 0508 BELLYFUL (0508 2355938) Free meal service for parents and families.
Crying Over Spilt Milk – 07 855 9350 – Gastric Reflux Support Network NZ
Budget Advice Services

Multiple specific groups:

Multiples NZ – A nationwide parent-led support network supporting families in their journey from expecting to raising multiples.
Dads of Multiples – Facebook Group
Special Needs Multiples NZ – Facebook Group
NZ Triplets Plus Club – Supporting parents of triplets or more multiples – 09 416 8885

Sexuality or gender identity helpline:

Helplines for children and young people:

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
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, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.

Other specialist helplines:

Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat
Are You OK – 0800 456 450 family violence helpline
Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655
Anxiety phone line – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)
Seniorline – 0800 725 463 A free information service for older people
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)
Rape Crisis – 0800 883 300 (for support after rape or sexual assault)

Warmline for consumers of mental health services:

Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them
Auckland Central – 0508 927 654 or 0508 WARMLINE – (8pm to midnight, seven nights)

Books:

Postpartum:

Golden Month: Caring for the world's mothers after childbirth by Jenny Allison
The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou, Amely Greeven and Marisa Belger

Aware Parenting books by Aletha Solter: