Free mental health and addiction counselling / He āwhina utukore mō te hauora hinengaro
He raruraru? Having a tough time? Counselling could help.
We have two counselling services available that offer free and confidential phone and on-line counselling services for currently enrolled learners.
We are partnering with Puāwaitanga and Vitae to offer these services, we encourage you to read the information below and select the service that best meets your needs.
Puāwaitanga
If you have mild to moderate symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship issues, low self-esteem, addictions or other related issues that may be affecting your life, Puāwaitanga can help. If one of your friends or whānau need urgent mental health support contact one of the free helplines listed at the bottom of this page.
How it works / Ko te ngako
- You need to be enrolled to study with us in New Zealand, living in New Zealand, and be over 18 years old.
- You can choose your counsellor from their photograph and bio information.
- You will be taken to the counsellor’s booking calendar to book your first session.
- Your counsellor will work with you to identify your needs and make a plan.
- To access this service you will need your student ID number to verify that you are an Open Polytechnic learner.
Kei a koe te tikanga – you can choose your own counsellor and make an appointment online or by phone:
- Book here for your first free counselling appointment
- Or Phone 0800 782 999.
Vitae
If you need assistance with personal or study stress, relationship problems, conflict situations, anxiety or depression, anger or violence, grief and loss, harassment, Personal trauma, addictions or other related issues that may be affecting your life, Vitae can help. If one of your friends or whānau need urgent mental health support contact one of the free helplines listed at the bottom of this page.
How it works / Ko te ngako
- You need to be enrolled to study with us in New Zealand, living in New Zealand, and be over 18 years old.
- You can choose your counsellor from their photograph and bio information.
- Your counsellor will work with you to identify your needs and make a plan.
- Referrals are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day
- To access this service you will need your student ID number to verify that you are an Open Polytechnic learner.
Kei a koe te tikanga – you can choose your own counsellor and make an appointment online or by phone
- Book here for your first free counselling appointment
- Or Phone 0508 664 981 - our phone lines are available 24/7
Feedback / He whakaaro nōu?
If you use the counselling service we welcome any feedback on your experience. This will help us ensure we’re meeting the needs of our learners. You can give this anonymously using the link below:
Counselling services feedback form
If you would like to speak to someone about your experience please email us:
learnerengagementandsuccessservices@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Need help Now? Pīrangi āwhina?
If you or one of your whānau or friends need mental health support or information right now you can contact one of the free helpline services listed on this page.
These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Need to talk? Free call or text 1737
- 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.
If you need urgent help dial 111.
Other places you can go to for support information include:
- Justathought.co.nz Free online therapy courses
- The Lowdown - for young people with concerns about their mental health who are looking for support, and for friends and whānau who want to support them.
- Small Steps - free digital self-help tools for anyone wanting to manage stress and increase their wellbeing.
You can also visit the Mental Health Foundation website for a more extensive list of the other helplines and support services available in New Zealand.