New and expectant mothers
Becoming a parent for the first time can bring many new joys and challenges to a family, especially if your family is in a new country. Even if you've been a parent for a while, learning to live and parent in a new country can bring new challenges as well.
We've combined information on parenting, services and support, some in Chinese, for new and expectant mothers.
Resources and services to support you and your family in NZ:
- Family Services - NZ Government website that lists over 35 programmes and services that support families and communities.
- Postnatal depression
- National Screening Unit resources in other languages
- Baby on the way
- When your baby can't stop crying - Canadian resource, phone numbers are outside of New Zealand.
- Kidscount - Australian website with information that can help you to raise happy and confident children.
- Child Development Fund
- Join a parent group
- Mothers Matter
- Plunket
- The Postnatal Distress Support Network Trust
- Health Navigator
- Mothers' Helpers
Helplines, self-tests, online therapy
- Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
- Depression helpline: Freephone 0800 111 757.
- Healthline: 0800 611 116 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week and free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone).
- Lifeline: 0800 543 35.
- Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (for callers from the Lower North Island, Christchurch and West Coast) or 04 473 9739 (for callers from all other regions).
- Ministry of Health. Online self-test.
- Big White Wall. Free for Auckland DHB residents. A UK-based professionally facilitated, peer support community of people who are experiencing common mental health problems.
- Beating the Blues. Online CBT therapy module, NZ.
- CALM Website. Exercises and information you can download.
- Depression.org.nz including The Journal. NZ based self-help programme designed to teach you skills that can help get through mild to moderate depression more effectively.
- MoodGYM is an interactive web program designed to prevent depression.
