Description:
Asian Family Services is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to providing mental health and gambling harm support services to individuals of Asian background living in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our gambling harm initiatives are funded by Te Whatu Ora and the NZ Government gambling levy, while our Asian Helpline caters to clients in need of immediate mental health assistance. Our services offered are face-to-face by qualified counsellors, psychologists, social workers, and public health practitioners who speak various Asian languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and English. In compliance with the Ministry of Health and Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act, our staff maintain registration with relevant professional organisations.
For over two decades, AFS has been a trusted provider of services to the Asian community, gaining recognition for its robust public health programme. In 2017, we launched the Asha service, designed to assist South Asians affected by harmful gambling and to increase awareness of this issue within the community.
Services:
Helpline: 0800 862 342 (Our Helpline provides nationwide free and confidential services from Monday to Friday between 9am-8pm. Our Helpline is available in eight languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi and English).
Asian Wellbeing Services:https://www.
Established in 2016, AFS’ Asian Wellbeing Services (AWS) offers bespoke psychological interventions and psychoeducation workshops for non-gambling concerns. By collaborating with General Practice clinics and schools, AWS provides on-site support, effectively reducing barriers for Asians accessing psychological services. Asian Wellbeing Services encompass Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in addition to other services.
Counselling Support: https://www.asianfamilyservices.nz/get-support/
Wellness Services at Apollo Medical Centre: https://www.
This service, available through general practice, features new primary care roles – Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) and Health Coach – offering customised advice and support. They promote self-management and link clients to other required services, collaborating with local NGO support workers. A GP or nurse can refer distressed clients to the HIP for immediate same-location support. Personalised support plans are created, with follow-ups as needed. The services aim to increase access and equity, offer choice for holistic concerns, decrease wait times, and improve population health and equity outcomes.
Resources and information: https://www.
Resources for mental health, wellbeing, addiction, and gambling harm support are available in Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Hindi.
Locations:
Auckland (Grafton and North Shore), Wellington and Christchurch https://www.