Youth wellbeing services

What you can get help with

Wellbeing is a spectrum and your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours can affect it.

These free services (through the Access and Choice programme) are designed for 12–24-year-olds as early intervention - to prevent problems from building up. So the best time to reach out is now, as soon as you start to feel that you’d like some help.

Services are tailored to you but could include help to:

• improve your mood (you may be feeling down, angry, confused, exhausted)
• change habits to reduce the harm of drinking or drug use
• understand how what you’re doing can impact how you feel
• improve your ability to cope with life’s challenges (building on your existing coping skills)
• learn tools to help you sleep better and address other physical health issues that are impacting your mental wellbeing
• talk about things that are bothering you – relationships, sexual health, grief, loneliness, or family violence
• talk through the impacts of living with long-term health conditions or a disability and make adjustments so you can live well with these challenges
• increase connection to the positive supports in your life, helping you to feel less alone
• get connected to services in the community.

You don't need a referral

Services are free and you don’t need a referral from your GP.

You don’t need to have any particular symptoms or be severely affected by them. You can just choose a provider that offers services in your area and get in touch. They’ll take it seriously when you say you need help, no matter where you’re at.

With your permission, whānau/family or friends can work together to get you help. Or you may get a referral from your GP, school, or other service.

Rangatahi (young people) aren’t limited to the youth providers. If you’d prefer to see your GP team or one of the Kaupapa Māori or Pacific-led providers then get in touch with them.

How it works

These services are designed to make it as easy as possible for you to get the support you need. The providers would like you to feel welcome, comfortable and accepted for who you are. 

They'll get to know you as a person and talk about what's affecting everyday life and how you feel. They'll work with you to approve your overall mental wellbeing and provide practical support so you can be your best possible self.

Providers offer a variety of services. These are community-led and flexible to meet your needs. It could include talking therapy, peer support, or tools to help with self-management. You might work 1 to 1 with someone or alongside other young people working to overcome their issues.

You can see or talk to a provider on your own, with your whānau or with a friend if you’d prefer. This could be done face to face or online.

Rainbow providers

Members of the Rainbow community can choose whichever of the Access and Choice providers best suits their needs. The programme also funds RainbowYOUTH to deliver peer support services in Auckland, Taranaki and Wellington. Please contact them if that’s a better fit for you.

InsideOUT is funded to deliver the Kōaro school-based service to around 300 high schools each year.

Getting in touch

When you get in touch with a provider, they'll explain how their services work and ask what else you need to know before you start working together. Their website may include detailed information on the help they provide.