Help is at hand for people struggling in the wake of COVID-19, with free counselling services available through Invercargill-based charity- Loss and Grief Support, which has received just over $17,000 in government funding. 

Funded by the Ministry of Health with support from the Mental Health Foundation, the money means Loss and Grief Support can provide up to 20 counselling sessions per week at no cost to the patient. 

"We've been really lucky to get the funding, it's fantastic," Loss and Grief Support Centre Director Caroline Loo said. 

"We constantly look at what the needs are in the community are and respond to that."

"Right now, people are saying I've got stuff from[the] past and I need to explore that."

Loss and Grief Support is a not-for-profit support centre in Invercargill offering support for people living with loss and grief of any sort – including bereavement, separation, illness, and other life changes. 

Ms Loo said their support centre began offering counselling services last year after her team started to notice an increase in the numbers people coming through the door, soon after the March 15 Christchurch Mosque attacks happened.

Since then, with significant events such as COVID-19 and the Tiwai smelter closure, the charity has noticed the need for counselling grow and believes the best way to help people right now is to provide a friendly and empathetic ear from a trained professional to help people see hope. 

"Counsellors don't tell you what to do, they help you problem-solve," Ms Loo said. 

"I like to call [counselling] coming to have a chat with a qualified person."

Ms Loo said we were living through some traumatic events at the moment that were bringing about a lot of unsettling changes for people. This was causing "trigger anxiety" – so those who were struggling needed to be equipped with the right tools to thrive, not just survive.

"We worked right through lockdown providing an emotional wellbeing service and we saw an increase in anxiety in that time. What we're noticing is people have a lot more uncertainty and trigger anxiety."

"Our goal is to help people with mental distress or illness get through their COVID-19 reality, and also to support and help other marginalised communities such as the elderly."

She said in applying for funding her team was taking a proactive response to the need for counselling in the community, and not waiting until the need – or the situation – got worse. 

"This [funding] was before Tiwai announced its closure, before the Warehouse announced layoffs; we're thrilled as we're mobilised and ready, [to provide] phone counselling, face to face counselling, whatever it is we can make it work."

To book in, Ms Loo said people could get in touch via the centre cellphone number on 027 443 8788, or to pop in and have a chat so the team could match those in need up with the best support for them.

"We'll make a plan to together," she said. 

She said as a charitable trust, Loss and Grief support did not charge for any services but she said it did accept koha from people who wanted to pay whatever they could of their counselling visit forward.

"Sometimes people come in with a cheque to pay it forward, and that's what I really like about Southlanders, we have this approach where we're kind and caring and we look out for out for each other."

$200,000 in funding has been allocated to 16 charities and community groups across the country, to help support people living with mental health and addictions challenges who have been impacted by COVID-19.

Deputy Director-General Mental Health and Addiction Robyn Shearer said: "These grants will help charities and community groups across Aotearoa keep their communities connected, supported and informed with updates about the impacts of COVID-19 so they can stay well."