Mental Health, Wellbeing & Counselling

“Treat burnout, poor mental health etc. like poor physical health. You wouldn’t try to run on a broken leg, right?”

— Anonymous student @VetWellbeingInitiative

Understanding what our minds and body needs can be difficult at the best of times! One of the best things you can do is create a wellbeing toolkit that will carry you through the tough times too.

The best place to start is by educating yourself on what your body and mind needs. We have provided varied resources depending on what stage of your wellbeing journey you are at, and what proactive steps are best for you to take…

Kia ora koutou!

We at the Massey Counselling service understand that the Vet programme is an intensely challenging and rewarding course and attracts students who are both highly capable and passionate. It is normal to need some additional support to undertake this course (alongside everything else you may be balancing in your life), and sometimes a counsellor can help to provide that support (or connect you with the right help).

We have a team of five counsellors here on the Manawatū campus who provide in-person and online counselling, and if needed we can connect you with a counsellor from Massey’s Albany or Wellington campus. You can find short bios for each counsellor at Massey by clicking here.

We offer free, shorter-term counselling support, and due to this our wait times are usually much shorter than other mental health services. If needed, we can discuss options around longer-term or specialised counselling. We can also can link you with e-therapy courses online through Online Mental Health Treatment Programs | THIS WAY UP or Just a Thought.

Information and Education

MyHub
A great place to start! Gives a general overview of all areas of wellbeing in an easily accessible format. Provides further helplines and resources specific to Massey University. Check it out here.

Mind
Explains how you can look after your mental health as a student, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support. Also includes detailed descriptions of different mental health diagnoses. Check it out here. 

NZVA Wellbeing Hub
The Wellbeing Hub provides access to valuable resources to help veterinarians (students too) remain healthy and well both as individuals as part of the wider veterinary team. It also provides support to those who are struggling with stress, anxiety or burnout. Check it out here.

R U OK?
R U OK? is a public health promotion charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives. Check it out here.

Lowdown
A space created with rangatahi, for rangatahi. Find support here for your hauora, identity, culture and mental health. Check it out here.

Support Communities

Massey Counselling
To book an appointment with a Massey counsellor, click here.

Chaplaincy Center
For support with spiritual well-being, faith groups and the Massey Chaplaincy service, click here.

Academic Support Services
If you need support with study strategies, assignments etc… click here.

Pacific Student Support
If you are needing support or would like to connect with the Pacifica community at Massey, please click here.

Maori Student Support
If you are needing support or would like to connect with the Maori community at Massey, please click here.

Rainbow Student Support
To connect with the Rainbow community at Massey, click here.

Diverse Minds @MasseyManawatu
Diverse Minds is a new social group to support and connect with Neurodiverse students. To connect with them, click here.

 FAQs

  • Please just let us know what your timetable is like, and we can often find a way to work with you around this. We cannot see students out of usual business hours, however (8.30am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday). Please also remember that you are allowed time off from classes or rosters (within reason) to attend health appointments, which includes counselling. If you need help with this, let us know.

  • Yes, we offer Zoom (or even phone) appointments, if you are needing support while you are out of town. Let us know what barriers there are (i.e. internet, schedule) and we will try to find a solution if at all possible.

  • There are range of options, depending on what your concerns are, but having a talk with a member of the Student Care Team, or one of the counsellors, can be a good first step to explore options.

  • We are happy to discuss this in more detail if you let us know, but in general we can provide: a screening for ADHD (this is NOT a diagnosis), information about ADHD and the pathways to getting a full assessment/diagnosis, and resources/support around how to live with ADHD-type symptoms. It is important to note that the process to be assessed privately for adult ADHD has a long wait-list and can cost around $2000 (approx.) with all the follow up appointments etc.

Other Support Services

Student Wellbeing Advisors
Location - In the Registry Building.
Email address -
Alex Vanden Brink - A.T.vandenBrink@massey.ac.nz
Rebekah O’Donoghue - r.odonoghue1@massey.ac.nz

Gumboot Friday
For anyone 25 and under who needs the support of a counsellor. They have counsellors
available for face to face or digital therapy. Check them out here.

Talk Campus
Talk campus is instant, 24/7 support designed specifically for student mental health, and offered on an app/web platform. Check them out here.

Vet Wellbeing Initiative
Our very own student led group for all things wellbeing in the veterinary student space.
Check out there Facebook and Instagram groups!

Healthline
0800 611 116

Youthline
Text 234
Ring 0800 376 633

Safe To Talk
0800 044 334

Massey Counsellors
Location - The health and counselling centre is located on level one of the Registry Building, Tiritea Road, Palmerston North.
Email address - studenthealth.manawatu@massey.ac.nz
Hours of operation - 8:30am-4:30pm weekdays

Massey Services for Students
These are all Massey services that include…
Counselling services, disability support, sexual harm help and support, harassment and racial discrimination, spiritual wellbeing groups, student wellbeing framework, hardship and emergency support.
Check them out here.

Outline (LGBTQI+)
0800 688 5463

1737 - Need to Talk?
Text 1737

Manawatu Crisis Team
0800 653 357

Listen to some of our own veterinarians & members of the Massey vet school talk about their own experience with mental health.

Listen to this insightful TedTalk about Self Care and what it really looks like to look after you.