Treatment and Support Centres in New Zealand

The route into care depends on urgency and the service required.

The right place to seek help depends on what is happening now. Counselling for anxiety is different from medically supervised alcohol withdrawal, crisis care for a young person, or advice for whānau supporting someone else. Before contacting a centre, establish how urgent the situation is, what level of care is needed and whether a referral is required.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 111 or go to the nearest emergency department. For urgent mental health concerns, contact a local mental health crisis team. For free emotional support at any time, call or text 1737. These services have different roles: a helpline can help you talk through a situation, but it does not replace emergency medical care.

Which treatment or support service fits your situation?

Situation	A useful starting point	What to check
Persistent anxiety, low mood or everyday distress	GP, primary-care wellbeing support, counselling or community services	Whether you can self-refer, session costs and availability
Severe or complex mental health difficulties	GP assessment and specialist community mental health services	Referral criteria, urgency and local crisis arrangements
Alcohol or drug use affecting health, work or whānau	Alcohol Drug Helpline or community addiction service	Assessment, withdrawal risks and treatment intensity
Need for structured daily treatment	Day programme or intensive outpatient programme	Attendance commitments, transport and suitability
Need for live-in addiction rehabilitation	Residential treatment service after assessment	Admission criteria, funding, waiting times and aftercare
Immediate safety concerns or rapidly worsening symptoms	111, emergency department or mental health crisis team	Do not wait for a routine counselling appointment

A name such as ‘support centre’ may refer to clinical care, social support, accommodation or an information directory. Check what the organisation actually provides before making an appointment.

How treatment and support centres differ

Community mental health services

Community mental health teams support people with mental health conditions that may require specialist assessment and ongoing treatment. Services can involve psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and other clinicians. Treatment may address depression, anxiety, psychosis, complex or co-existing mental health and addiction issues. A GP often helps assess whether a specialist referral is appropriate; access criteria vary by region and team.

Counselling may be available without a specialist hospital referral.

Counselling and psychological therapy do not always require a specialist hospital referral. A GP can discuss talking therapies, medication where appropriate, and community services. Some practices offer Access and Choice wellbeing support through health improvement practitioners, health coaches or community support workers. Availability and enrolment requirements differ by practice.

Alcohol and drug treatment services

Addiction services range from individual counselling and group sessions to medication-assisted treatment, intensive programmes and residential rehabilitation. Community alcohol and drug services (CADS), non-government organisations, kaupapa Māori services and private providers may offer different pathways. Goals can include reducing harm, cutting down use, stopping use and maintaining recovery. Assessment should cover substance use, physical and mental health, living circumstances and the person's goals.

Withdrawal management (detox) is not the same as rehabilitation. Withdrawal addresses the immediate effects of stopping or reducing a substance; rehabilitation focuses on the wider patterns, supports and circumstances associated with ongoing use. Alcohol or sedative withdrawal can be medically dangerous, particularly after prolonged heavy use. Do not attempt abrupt withdrawal without professional advice if dependence is possible. A local addiction service or healthcare professional can assess whether supervised withdrawal is needed.

For opioid dependence, an addiction clinician may discuss opioid substitution treatment, which uses prescribed medication and structured support. This treatment is for opioid dependence, not all addictions.

Day programmes and intensive outpatient care

Day programmes combine scheduled group work, individual appointments, recovery education and peer support while people live at home. They may suit someone who needs more than occasional counselling but not residential care. Check the weekly timetable, travel and childcare demands, and who can help outside programme hours.

Residential rehabilitation and inpatient care

Residential addiction programmes involve living at a treatment facility for a period of structured recovery support. Providers may include The Salvation Army Bridge, Odyssey and other local rehabilitation services listed through Healthpoint. Programmes differ in admission process, therapeutic approach, cultural support, duration, rules, visitor arrangements and cost. Long-term substance use alone does not establish a need for residential care.

Hospital inpatient mental health units serve a different purpose: they provide clinical care for people whose symptoms and safety needs cannot be managed appropriately in a less intensive setting. Residential recovery services and supported housing may help people transition towards independent living, but accommodation with support should not be confused with acute hospital treatment.

How to find a treatment or support centre near you

1. Identify the main need and urgency. Decide whether the immediate issue is crisis safety, mental health assessment, addiction treatment, counselling, housing support or ongoing recovery.
2. Search a service directory by location and service type. Healthpoint lists mental health and addiction providers and can help narrow a search across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Waikato, Canterbury, Northland, Bay of Plenty, Otago and other regions. The Family Services Directory can help identify community organisations and family services.
3. Ask about the referral route. Some providers accept direct enquiries or self-referrals; others require a GP, hospital clinician or specialist assessment. The referral rule for one service may not apply to another.
4. Check eligibility and practical fit. Ask about age limits, catchment area, funding eligibility, accessibility, language, cultural approach and whether a family or whānau member can be involved.
5. Confirm the next step in writing. Ask how the assessment is arranged, what information to bring and whom to contact if needs worsen while waiting.

For help navigating mental health care, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand explains GP, public, community and private routes. It provides information rather than operating a treatment centre or endorsing individual clinicians.

Local services differ in entry requirements and availability.

Referral, eligibility, cost and waiting times

Is treatment free? It depends on the service and eligibility. Publicly funded community mental health services and many addiction programmes are available without direct treatment fees to eligible people. Some residential addiction services are publicly funded; private rehabilitation clinics and private counsellors may charge. Costs can also include transport, accommodation, time off work or childcare. Ask the provider for an itemised explanation rather than assuming all treatment is free or that every residential place has a fee.

Confirm fees and eligibility before arranging an assessment.

People seeking affordable support can ask their GP about Access and Choice services, local low-cost counselling, community support groups, or workplace employee assistance programmes (EAP). Students may have counselling through a school, university or tertiary provider. Depending on personal eligibility and circumstances, Work and Income may help with some disability-related counselling costs or residential living expenses. Check conditions directly rather than relying on a general promise of assistance.

What if there is a waiting list? Request an indication of assessment and admission timelines, ask whether a different service is available sooner, and arrange support for the interim. This might include GP follow-up, a peer group, a helpline or a community addiction service. If risk increases, seek a fresh urgent assessment rather than waiting for the original appointment.

Choosing a centre: questions that prevent a poor match

• Clinical suitability: Does the service assess the condition or substance use involved? Can it manage co-existing physical or mental health needs?
• Level of care: Is it counselling, a day programme, withdrawal management, hospital treatment, residential rehabilitation or supported housing?
• Referral and admission: Can I contact you directly? What assessment, documentation or medical clearance is required?
• People and approach: Who provides care, what qualifications do they hold, and how is the treatment plan reviewed?
• Culture and communication: Are kaupapa Māori, Pacific-led, interpreter or other culturally appropriate options available?
• Cost and access: Are treatment, accommodation, medicines, transport and follow-up covered? Are there geographic or age restrictions?
• Privacy and involvement: What information is confidential, when might information be shared for safety, and how can whānau participate with consent?
• Continuity: What happens if the programme is unsuitable, there is a relapse, or more support is needed after discharge?

A provider should explain what it can and cannot treat. Treat promises of a guaranteed cure, pressure to avoid medical assessment, or unclear safeguarding procedures as warning signs.

Travel and aftercare arrangements matter when comparing programmes.

Support for Māori, Pasifika, rangatahi and whānau

Care may need to address identity, relationships, spirituality and community alongside symptoms. Kaupapa Māori services may use Māori approaches to wellbeing and whānau-centred care. People can also seek guidance through Māori health providers, Whānau Ora, marae, hapū or iwi services. Pacific-led services may offer approaches grounded in Pacific family and community contexts. Availability differs by region, so request specific local options rather than assuming each centre offers every model.

Māori and Pacific-led support may involve family and community.

Children and young people, including tamariki and rangatahi, may be better served by youth-specific services, school counsellors, youth health hubs or child and adolescent mental health teams. Family members and carers can ask for their own education, counselling and peer support even if the person they are concerned about is not ready to engage in treatment.

If someone is reluctant to seek help, start with what worries you and ask whether they would accept a conversation with a GP or support worker. Whānau can contact a helpline for advice even if the person declines treatment. Immediate danger requires emergency help, not a prolonged discussion about admission.

What happens after the first assessment?

An initial appointment usually explores current symptoms or substance use, physical health, safety concerns, previous treatment, living situation and personal priorities. The clinician or support worker may recommend a treatment plan, a different service, further assessment or a combination of supports. A person may receive counselling, medication where clinically indicated, group sessions, peer support and practical help with housing or family circumstances.

Care plans may include clinical treatment, peers and whānau.

Ask how progress will be reviewed and what would prompt a change in care. The plan should name the person responsible for follow-up and explain how to return if problems recur. Discharge from a day programme or residential centre is not necessarily the end of treatment: continuing care, relapse-prevention planning, peer groups, supportive housing and ongoing GP contact may all play a role in recovery.

ment centre without a GP referral?

Often, yes. Helplines, peer support groups, some counselling providers and certain addiction services accept direct contact. Specialist mental health teams and residential programmes may require assessment or referral. Check the individual provider's entry requirements before travelling.

Some follow-up services are available outside specialist centres.

Can I receive mental health and addiction treatment together?

Sometimes. Mental health and substance use problems can overlap, but a service may treat only one. Check whether the team manages co-existing conditions or coordinates with another provider.

What if I live in a rural area?

Telephone or online counselling and outreach services may reduce travel. Ask your GP or check Healthpoint for regional referrals. Residential treatment may still require a journey outside your district.

Can family members arrange treatment for another adult?

Whānau can contact services for advice, describe safety concerns and help someone seek an assessment. Adults generally have a say in their care and what information is shared, subject to applicable law and serious safety situations. Ask the provider how consent, confidentiality and crisis procedures work.

What should I do if the first service is not suitable?

Tell the provider what was missing and request a different referral or another assessment. Keep existing care and any safety plan in place during the change. New urgent risks need crisis support, not a routine waiting list.

Where should I go if I need help tonight?

For immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 111. For urgent mental health assessment, use your regional crisis team's contact details or a hospital emergency department. If you need someone to talk to but are not in immediate danger, call or text 1737. For alcohol or drug concerns, the Alcohol Drug Helpline is available on 0800 787 797.