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Podcasts, Instagram feed, Other Support Services & Resources

NATIONAL HELPLINES:

Immediate danger:

 

Depression-specific helplines:

  • Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions)

  • www.depression.org.nz – includes The Journal online help service

  • SPARX.org.nz –  online e-therapy tool provided by the University of Auckland that helps young people learn skills to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed

 

Help for parents, family and friends:

  • Plunketline – A toll-free parent helpline and advice service available to all families, whānau and caregivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 0800 933 922 for parenting help.  Calls are free from cell phones.

  • Plunket Family Centres – Plunket Family Centres provide a free service, offering practical support and information on different whānau topics: 09 489 9778

  • Commonground – a website hub providing parents, family, whānau and friends with access to information, tools and support to help a young person who is struggling

  • Parent Help – Helpline for support, advice and help on how best to support your family – 0800 568 856

  • Family Services 211 Helpline –  0800 211 211  for help finding (and direct transfer to) community based health and social support services in your area

  • Family Start – An intensive home visiting programme, focused on tamariki. The programme works with whānau to improve a child’s health, learning and relationships.

  • Birthright – Support for one-parent families – 04 802 5377

  • Skylight – 0800 299 100 (for support through trauma, loss and grief; 9am-5pm weekdays)

  • Yellow Brick Road - supporting Families In Mental Illness – 0800 732 825 (for families and whānau supporting a loved one who has a mental illness)

  • Bellyful – 0508 BELLYFUL (0508 2355938) Free meal service for parents and families.

  • Crying Over Spilt Milk – 07 855 9350 – Gastric Reflux Support Network NZ

  • Budget Advice Services

 

Multiple specific groups:

 

Sexuality or gender identity helpline:

Helplines for children and young people:

Other specialist helplines:

  • Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat

  • Are You OK – 0800 456 450  family violence helpline

  • Gambling Helpline – 0800 654 655

  • Anxiety phone line – 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)

  • Seniorline – 0800 725 463 A free information service for older people

  • Shine –  0508 744 633 confidential domestic abuse helpline

  • Quit Line – 0800 778 778 smoking cessation help

  • Vagus Line – 0800 56 76 666 (Mon, Wed, Fri 12 noon – 2pm). Promote family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence

  • Women’s Refuge Crisisline – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) (for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family)

  • Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 (for migrant or refugee women living with family violence)

  • Rape Crisis – 0800 883 300 (for support after rape or sexual assault)

 

Warmline for consumers of mental health services:

  • Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them

  • Auckland Central – 0508 927 654 or 0508  WARMLINE – (8pm to midnight, seven nights)​

Podcasts

To get a feel for my style and the way I like to support parents, here are a few, free and accessible podcasts that I have been interviewed on:

​Aware Parenting Stories Podcast: Episode 96: Birth Debriefing with Kirsty Fernandes

The Aware Parenting Podcast: Episode 152: Helping Mothers heal from a traumatic birthing experience with Kirsty Fernandes 

The Spirited Hearts Podcast: Episode 58: The Importance of Postpartum Support in Motherhood with Kirsty Fernandes

Aware Parenting Stories Podcast: Episode 44: Trusting the process with Kirsty Fernandes

Talking Aware Parenting with Vivian Viester: Episode 12: Talking Aware Parenting with Kirsty Fernandes 

 

My Birth Story/Birth Trauma Aotearoa:

Birth trauma support:

https://www.mybirthstory.org.nz/our-story

The Little Miracles Trust:

Supports families of premature or unwell babies:

https://littlemiraclestrust.org.nz/ 

Books:​

Postpartum:

Aware Parenting books by Aletha Solter:

  1. The Aware Baby 

  2. Tears and Tantrums 

  3. Attachment Play 

  4. Cooperative and Connected 

  5. Raising Drug Free Kids  

  6. Healing your traumatized child

  7. Raising Joyful Lifelong Learners

Introducing the concept of a new sibling:

Websites and online articles:

A brief on Mama Honouring Ceremonies, written by my wonderful colleague, Marta Willis: 

The essence of Mother Roasting (no ovens involved, I promise!) 

The benefits of postpartum care:

The value of the Asian tradition of postpartum lie-ins

The Aware Parenting Institute: 

http://www.awareparenting.com/ 

Great website for sound, research based advice:

https://kellymom.com/ 

Breastfeeding advice and support:

https://lalecheleague.org.nz/

Meal Train: organise meals for a friend after a birth, surgery or illness (or have someone organise it for you!)

https://www.mealtrain.com/ 

SPACE - connect with other Mums post-birth and explore your baby's development in a facilitated environment:

https://www.playcentre.org.nz/whatwedo/space-at-playcentre/

Playcentre - a village for you and your children to grow and PLAY!

https://www.playcentre.org.nz 

Support for Fathers and Father figures:​

Nourishing Fathers

https://www.nourishingfathers.com

Apps to download:

© 2019 by Kirsty Fernandes

Kirsty Fernandes Honouring Mama

Online & in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Tel: +64 27 405 3108

"The most profound thing we have to offer our children is our own healing." - Anne Lamott

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