If you are in crisis, please contact your local crisis team – find the contact number at this link
If you are not in crisis but you need to talk to someone, you can text or phone 1737 and speak with a qualified counsellor on the phone.
All Locations
Mothers Helpers offers low-cost support and therapy starting from $20 per session and these can be offered free of charge in some cases thanks to our funders and donors that make this possible. Here are the services we offer to all mothers living anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand:
Preparing for Parenthood six-week antenatal programme for expecting parents wanting to prepare for the huge psychological transition of becoming parents
Out of the Fog 9-week Perinatal Depression/Anxiety recovery group therapy/group support programme – effectively helps mothers to become well with Edinburgh scores reduced by 48% and 65-90% well by course end (outcomes of 10 years data)
Birth Trauma counselling with our Senior Therapist Kristina Grace
Individual counselling with our Provisional Counsellor
Return to Work program – Ideal for mothers on maternity leave or have returned to work within the last 12 months
In addition to the support offered by Mothers Helpers, we would like to provide you with resources and support available to families. Please scroll down to find supports in your area:
Most Locations
Family Start – provides home visit support to families experiencing challenges who are expecting a baby or baby is 12mths or younger.
Family Works – social work, family therapy and parenting education programmes
Barnardoes – social work, parenting education programmes (including parenting through separation)
Bellyful – providing meals to help families facing challenges
Warkworth
Free mindfulness and parenting courses and brief (4-10 sessions) home-based family practitioner (usually a social worker or counsellor)
Papakura/Franklin
Offers a Face-to-face Peer Support Group
Waikato & Bay of Plenty
Covering the whole of the Waikato including Hamilton, Huntly, Tokoroa, Coromandel, Raglan and some of the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga)
Free therapy and mental health support from experienced mental health nurses and therapists
Bay of Plenty
True Colours – Honouring the Mother
Face-to-face peer support group including breath work, meditation and group sharing
Email referral to: truecoloursreferrals@gmail.com
Volunteers providing practical, emotional, social support and respite
* Extra support for new migrant families or those with multiples
Note: Will not accept self-referrals, only clinician referrals
Tairawhiti/Gisborne
“Mama and Pepi” services includes a Kaiawhina (support person) for pregnant women and/or for families with children who have high needs. Their mental health support includes support workers (Kaiwhina), mental health social workers, counselling, education and home visits.
Taranaki (New Plymouth and rural Taranaki)
Support work with a Te Ao Maori kaupapa providing emotional and social support for mothers and families in the first 5 years of life and extra mental health support as needed.
Email to make a referral: intake@tuiora.co.nz
Wairarapa
Peer support home visits from mentors and light practical help.
Hutt Valley (Lower Hutt/Upper Hutt or Wainuiomata)
Naku enei Tamariki
Naku enei Tamariki provide home visit support from a support worker for expecting mums and families with a child 12mths or younger. They also have “Hapu Wananga” – a free 3 day antenatal course from a Kaupapa Maori perspective. They also provide Family Start support and parenting programmes. Refer at this link: https://www.net-maori.org.nz/referrals/
Blenheim
Maternal Mental Wellbeing Marlborough
Refer for Free Antenatal Therapeutic Group: https://www.maternalmentalwellbeing.com/copy-of-postnatal-support-group
Refer for Free Postnatal Therapeutic Group: https://www.maternalmentalwellbeing.com/copy-of-about
Nelson
Free 10 counselling sessions (or more if needed) and free therapeutic psycho-educational group. Email Referral to: hello@perinatalsupportnelson.org.nz
Canterbury
Perinatal Wellbeing Canterbury (Christchurch and Rural Canterbury)
Peer Support Wellbeing group for perinatal stages.
Canterbury Plunket Perinatal Adjustment Programme
Free assessment and follow up home visit support by plunket nurses focusing on perinatal depression/anxiety.
Timaru
Timaru Plunket Perinatal Adjustment Programme
Free assessment and follow up home visit support by plunket nurses focusing on perinatal depression/anxiety.
Otago
Free Counselling and Social Work support
Dunedin Perinatal Adjustment Programme
Free assessment and follow up home visit support by plunket nurses focusing on perinatal depression/anxiety.
Dunedin Home Help Service
A volunteer-based service that provides free, short-term, practical support through Plunket
Refer here: josie.garner@plunket.org.nz
Dunedin Mums PND Group
Peer support group run by mums for mums, meeting fortnightly. Online support also available if not wanting group support. Refer here: dunedinmumspnd@gmail.com
Catholic Social Services (Dunedin and Otago)
10 free counselling sessions, 6 social work sessions specific to parents, birth support group antenatal classes, parenting classes
Central Lakes Family Services (Queenstown and surrounding areas)
Social work support, drop-in centre, antenatal classes and matrescence courses (6 weeks for $60) Refer here: pics@clfs.co.nz
Clutha
Blessed Box (similar to Bellyful but more of a one-off gift of food) Refer here: kiaora@blessedbox.co.nz
