Facing up to an addiction can be hard to do, and quitting is often just as challenging. If you think that you or someone you know needs help, then the services in this section will be able to offer you support, or point you in the right direction of accessing the right service for you. If you are unsure on making the first step to access a help service, then it's a good idea to talk to an adult you trust first, so that they can help you to make a decision. If you don't have someone that you feel comfortable talking to, there are also services in this directory that have confidential helplines, which you can access. If you would like more information online about alcohol and drugs, then click <a href="http://urge.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=7&Itemid=54&lang=en">here</a> to check out the section on Urge with more info. In this section you can find information on help services for quitting smoking, drug and alcohol rehabilitation or programmes, and gambling help services.
In this section you will find information on where you can go to get some help with developing your skills and knowledge in maths, english, and budgeting. This includes English as a Second Language courses.
Knowing how to present yourself to a potential employer is really important when you are trying to find a job, and the first opportunity to do so is usually with your CV. That's why it's really important to have a CV that promotes all your skills and achievements. We know it can be hard to talk yourself up, and what to include and what to leave out of your CV can be confusing, so to make things easier, check out the services in your area that might be able to help you with your future.
Need someone to talk to? It can often be helpful to talk to a counselor or health professional. Counsellors can help with a wide range of issues, from pregnancy and miscarriage support to grief and trauma. You might want to meet with a counsellor regularly, or you might just want to have a chat while you are going through a difficult patch. If you are worried about being able to afford to pay for counselling, dont let this stop you. Some services work on a donation base (you pay what you can afford to), or on a sliding scale (you pay a set amount depending on what you earn). There is also financial support available through Work and Income and ACC, which the counselor will be able to talk you through. There are also free help lines like Youthline that can help support you through the tough times, and the good.
Finding services that provide for people with disabilities can sometimes be hard. In this section you can find out what services and support networks are available in your area.
Who we 'like' or are 'attracted to', or who we 'fall in love with' depends on our sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is the name given to the type of relationship you have or are interested in having, and is something you have to discover for yourself as you experience friendships and relationships with different people. The term transgender encompasses individuals who were born in a physical body of the opposite sex to the feelings, emotions, mental and spiritual state that they are. There are heaps of support groups out there if you find you're having a hard time with your sexuality or with being transgender.
We all know that our health and well being is important to how we function, and that our health actually impacts on lots of other things in our lives, like how we do at school, our friends and relationships that we have, and how we feel about ourselves. It can sometimes be scary to seek help, and hard to know where to go, but there are places out there that are youth friendly and will understand what might be going on for you. And you do have rights!
There are lots of ways to get help, support and information when you need it, for a range of issues and topics. One way of doing this is by phone - there are a lot of services that don't require you to physically go into their offices, and that will try to help over the phone. Some of these are free from your cell phone too, which is great if you don't have access to a landline. In this section you will find the details for these lines.
Thinking about going for your driver's license and not sure how to prepare yourself? It can be a confusing process, with lots of steps, so that's where the organisations and websites in our directory may be able to help.
Your rights as a young person are important. It is essential that we all act responsibly for ourselves and also respect and acknowledge the rights of others. At any age in can be difficult to know what your rights are, especially when you are in a situation where you have to make a quick decision. But there are people who can support you to find the right information. Whether you are just wanting some information about what you are legally allowed and not allowed to do, or if you need to get some legal advice or representation, then click on your region to find out what services are available in your area.
Mental health refers to your general sense of wellbeing. Good mental health means you have a range of emotions, feelings and experiences that allow you to enjoy your life and make good decisions about different situations. Mental illness refers to having ongoing difficulties with feelings and emotions that end up affecting how you think about yourself, other people and the world, and this impacts on your enjoyment of life, and making good decisions. Everyone has ups and downs - this is perfectly normal. So while you might not always have good mental health, it doesn't necessarily mean you have a mental illness. Mental illness is about more ongoing difficulties. If you recognise some of the signs of depression, anxiety, or substance use problems, either in yourself or someone you know, it really helps to talk to someone you trust. This could be a friend, family member, doctor or school counsellor.
In this section you will find information on organisations that can help link you in with a person who can provide one on one coaching with you on a range of topics.
New to the country or helping someone that is? In this section you will find out about the various services and organisations that can help new residents to New Zealand.
Wanting to meet new people and get active? There are tons of different courses and organisations that you can get involved with. The YMCA is a great place to meet new people and experience great adventures and learning - and they provide a wide range of programmes across the country.
Deciding to have sex is a big step. There are lots of things to consider, like how you feel about the person you are thinking about having sex with, how to stay safe, and whether or not you are ready. If you are having sex already, then you need to make sure that you are taking all the right precautions, and that you know where to go if something goes wrong. If you would like to talk about sex and staying safe, then there are lots of online resources, and organisations that you can visit to make sure you have all the information you need to make good choices.
If someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or you are worried that they may be a danger to themselves or other people, then it is important that you are able to get the help that is needed. Talking to people that you can trust to help you make decisions can be useful, this might be a doctor, counsellor or teacher, parent or family member. If you or someone you know is in urgent need of help, call 111 and ask for an ambulance. Another option in a crisis is to contact mental health professionals who work in specialist crisis teams. They will respond in mental health emergencies.
There are several different types of abuse, and all of them hurt people. You can be pretty sure if it's any kind of abuse, it is not okay, and if you or someone you know is being abused, then it is really important that you ask for help. Abuse can be physical (punching, hitting, kicking), emotional (put downs, insults, threats) or sexual (unwanted touching or rape). Sometimes people who have been abused feel guilty, but it's never their fault. Even if you've been out partying, or if you were somewhere you shouldn't have been. If something has happened to you that has made you feel bad, and you haven't told anyone, it is important that you do talk to someone about it.
Are you a young parent, about to be one, or looking for support for a friend or family member? In this section you can find the contact details for organisations and support services that can help.
The organisations in this section provide support for those who have been or are, involved in the youth justice system.
