Lifeline Aotearoa

New Zealand · Mental Health Care

Lifeline Aotearoa has been helping New Zealanders in crisis for over 50 years. Our free community helplines, 0800 LIFELINE, Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 TAUTOKO as well as our text support service HELP (4357) are answered by qualified counsellors and trained volunteers from centres in Auckland and Christchurch. We also provide specialist counselling, corporate and volunteer training, online support for workplaces and coordinate suicide prevention and postvention activities in the Wellington districts. Our mission is to reduce distress and save lives by providing safe, accessible, effective, professional and innovative services. We work specifically to increase awareness and understanding of suicide prevention in New Zealand and reduce the associated stigma and to work with others to make a positive contribution to the health and social sector. We receive over 10,000 calls from people of all ages and ethnicities who are struggling with a wide range of issues including relationship and work problems, mental health, grief, abuse, bullying and loneliness. We help an average of 6 people a day at high risk of suicide. Calls to our helplines are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We receive no government funding for these helplines and reply on public donations. Lifeline is part of Presbyterian Support Northern, a non-government organisation in the health and social service sector.