Mental Health Support & Services in NZ | The Doctors

We can all struggle with mental health

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is as important as your physical health.

Struggles with your mental health are nothing to be ashamed of. Most of us will experience significant episodes of stress, distress or poor mental wellbeing during our life. Over 25% of New Zealanders have poor mental wellbeing, according to the latest report from Stats NZ.

A mental health condition is when we experience distress that significantly impacts our ability to function as we normally would. When our mental health is impacted, we have changes in our mood, thoughts, behaviour and body and we struggle to navigate the natural ups and downs in life. If your mental health has declined and has started to affect your work, relationships and quality of life, we recommend seeing your GP or medical team should be your first step. No formal referral is required.

Poor mental health signs

Poor mental health presents itself in a variety of ways and differs between people. When someone is struggling there may be several signs or symptoms.

Most common signs

Here are the most common signs to look out for within yourself, and others:

Sudden or gradual behaviour changes
Constantly feeling worried or anxious
Feeling depressed, unhappy or numb
Emotional outbursts that are out of the norm
Weight or appetite changes, especially rapid loss or gain of weight
Sleep problems, such as insomnia or sleeping more than normal
Unhealthy use of alcohol or drugs. It’s important to note that alcohol and drugs can also cause mental illness
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Constantly feeling worthless or guilty
Bizarre or paranoid thoughts, such as someone is controlling you, or you see or hear things that others can’t
Neglect in daily tasks and personal hygiene
Drop in work or school performance

Physical symptoms

Poor mental health will often present as physical symptoms, including:

Heart palpitations
Chest tightness
Headaches
Excessive sweating
Vomiting
Feeling dizzy
Diarrhoea
Fatigue
Restlessness

Mental health services and support

Our team can diagnose and support all types of mental health conditions, such as:

Anxiety
Depression
Stress management
Grief and loss
Postpartum depression
Child and youth mental health
Addiction support
Bipolar affective disorder
ADHD*

*From February 2026, adult patients will be able to see specialist GPs and Nurse Practitioners (with an interest in ADHD) for ADHD diagnosis and medications. Book an appointment with your GP or Nurse Practitioner, as you would normally do for a specialist referral. They will ask some questions about your symptoms and history and then arrange a time for a full assessment either within the practice or complete a referral to another provider in our network.

We’re working on making this service available at all our centres. Feel free to check with your practice to see if they’re already offering it.

Accessing mental health services

Identifying that you’re struggling with your mental health can feel overwhelming. Knowing where and how to access support is important. A great first step is booking an appointment with your GP, who can talk through the options available, and refer you to the right support.

What to expect at a GP appointment

Your consultation with us will be confidential and private, per our obligations.

In your appointment be honest with how you’re feeling, and the way it’s affecting your daily life. Your GP can then recommend the right pathways and refer you to the best support. They will discuss the options available with you, offering their expertise and advice so that you can make an informed decision.

Mental health support may include an appointment with a Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) or Health Coach (HC). They work closely with our GPs at many of our medical centres. Sessions are free of charge, and they can usually meet with you on the same day or week that you visit your GP. Our GPs can also refer you to specialist organisations that support mental health and professional diagnosis if required. Our team collaborates with other specialists and community-based services to ensure a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing. Other options may include prescription medication to ease your symptoms. Our goal is to support your journey so that you can get back to enjoying quality of life.

If visiting your medical centre in person feels too overwhelming, we encourage you to bring along a support person, or book to see a GP virtually.

It’s important to remember that you are not alone, and there is a wealth of resources available that you can access.

Patient talking to GP about their mental health

Accessing mental health support for a loved one

You may suspect a loved one has poor mental health. They may not realise it or have trouble accepting that they’re struggling. In this situation, the best approach is to check in regularly and offer to listen while they share their concerns. Ensure you don’t make them feel isolated, so a non-confrontational approach often works best. Gently suggest how they can access mental health support services and offer to accompany them.

Crisis support and helplines

Most clinics can support you in a crisis however if it’s an emergency, dial 111.

For free, confidential helpline and text services 24/7, 1737

How to access our services

Book an Appointment

Appointments can be booked online, for enrolled patients, or by contact your closest medical centre for casual consults.

Become an enrolled patient

Being enrolled at a medical centre and seeing the same healthcare team every time is proven to give you the bests health outcomes, ensuring that you can focus on what matters most. Enrolling is free and easy to do - it takes less than 5 minutes.

Enrol with us today