NZ Ministry of Health Web Page
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Mental Health

Access to Mental Health Services


For most people, access to mental health services will be by way of a referral from a General Practitioner (GP).

Emergency/Crisis situations


For advice in emergencies, contact mental health services as follows:

  1. Search online In the white pages (www.yellow.co.nz/whitepages)
  2. In the hardcopy white pages of the telephone book, turn to the last green striped section at the front entitled 'Hospital and other Health Service providers'

    • In that section, look for a listing for the local hospital or District Health Board and locate 'Mental Health services' or, in some cases, 'Psychiatric services' and phone that number to ask for advice.
    • In some areas there may be a listing for CATT (Community Assessment and Treatment Team) or a Crisis Assessment Team. If so, phone the appropriate number. If there is no response (after hours) then phone the hospital 'Mental Health' number or the main number for the hospital for advice.

Below is a list of Mental Health emergency contact numbers. This is not exhaustive, so please refer to the phone book if your area is not covered


Auckland mental health crisis services for emergencies only

Wellington mental health crisis service for emergencies only
Covers Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Porirua City,Wellington City, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt region
(04) 494 9169

Christchurch - Psychiatric Emergency
0800 920 092
03 364 0482
Dunedin
For out of hours emergencies phone Dunedin Hospital 03 474 0999 and ask for the Emergency Psychiatric Service. They will contact the Central Otago on-call worker.

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Page last updated: 28 August 2009