Support for adults
This section details the different types of support available, for adults, here at Tony’s Place.
WAVES programme (Wellington)
WAVES is an 8-week psycho-educational programme.
Groups, usually of 6-10 people, meet weekly to cover a range of specific topics, including grief reactions and different grief styles, understanding suicide, how the suicide has impacted on your social network, and ways to remember your loved one.
The programme is based on what research tells us is most effective in helping those affected by suicide. The sessions involve a mix of education (the facilitators sharing information) and participants sharing their own experiences, including what has helped them. In this way, the group learn from and support each other.
The programme combines learning about suicide and bereavement, with group discussion and support. The group is facilitated by two trained facilitators over eight weeks and supports members to:
meet and share with others who are also experiencing the impact of suicide
explore aspects of their grief and reduce isolation and stigma associated with bereavement by suicide in a safe and supportive environment
get information and strategies about how to care for themselves and others (including children and young people), after a suicide
adjust to living with loss and moving forward.
Our next WAVES group in Wellington begins 19 August
Contact us now to find out more or register your interest.
Session 1: Introduction
Getting to know each other
Negotiating the process
Building trust and rapport
Establishing values and safety
Session 2: Acknowledging the grief and loss
Acknowledging and sharing aspects of grief
Learning more about the grief process and different styles of grieving
Learning about and sharing strategies for managing grief
Session 3: Emotional responses and coping
Identifying, acknowledging and sharing emotions (i.e. anger, sadness, fear, guilt)
Learning more about managing strong emotions
Learning about and sharing health ways to express and manage emotions
Session 4: Cognitive responses, living with why and coping
Identifying, acknowledging and sharing recurring thoughts (e.g. why???)
Learning more about making sense of suicide and managing unhelpful thoughts
Learning about and sharing healthy ways to express thoughts and manage thinking
Session 5: Social responses, impact and support
Identifying, acknowledging and sharing how suicide has affected people and their family/whānau socially
Learning more about the social impact of suicide, stigma and supporting others
Learning more about and sharing ways to strengthen, repair and build new relationships
Session 6: Healing, remembering rituals and connections
Identifying and sharing how people accommodate grief, adjust to loss and have begun to heal
Learning more about rituals, ways of letting go of pain and holding on to memories and connections with loved ones.
Sharing stories about loved ones and how people want to remember them
Session 7: Looking ahead, moving forward
Identifying, acknowledging and sharing how grief and loss changes over time
Learning more about stories of suffering, growth, and survivorship
Learning more about and sharing ways people can stay hopeful and resilient going forward
Session 8: Closure, reflection and feedback
Bring the group to a close, reflecting on experiences with others
Collecting feedback to help the development of Waves
Collecting a message of hope for other survivors
Session overview
Topic Connect sessions (Wellington)
Tony’s Place hosts regular Topic Connect sessions. These are an informal opportunity for adults affected by suicide to come along, hear a speaker on the evening’s given topic and share in conversation with others who ‘get it’. Sessions tend to run 7-9pm. Please contact us to register your interest and receive venue details.
A small koha is appreciated to help cover supper costs.
If there’s a particular topic you’d like us to consider, please let us know.
Upcoming Topic Connect sessions
Coping with Guilt
Supporting Grieving Children
Navigating the Christmas Period
Tuesday 13 May 2025
Tuesday 12 August 2025
Tuesday 11 November 2025
Click on the image to download.
Free downloadable resource
Other free supports available for adults nationwide
This sections details other support options available, in addition to those provided by Tony’s Place. For more information on these, please contact the providers directly. You do not need a referral to access these services, you can self-refer.
Free therapeutic support specifically for individuals (of all ages) and families bereaved by suicide. Up to 10 free sessions are available face-to-face, online or by phone – www.aoaketera.org.nz or leave a message on 0800 000 053.
Aoake Te Rā - Counselling
Free, nationwide support for people after a suicide. Be supported by a Support Worker.
Also be aware that the Victim Support website contains a number of suicide-specific resources (these are highly recommended and contain a lot of useful, practical information).
Phone 0800 842 846
Victim Support Manaaki Tāngata
WAVES is an 8-week grief educational programme for adults (18 years +) who have been affected by the suicide of someone they know. While Tony’s Place runs WAVES in the Wellington area, visit here to find out if WAVES is available in your local area.
WAVES programme
There are a number of peer support groups that meet regularly around the country. Most of these groups have been established and are facilitated by people who are suicide-bereaved themselves. Peer support group meetings typically provide the opportunity for those affected by suicide to come together over a cup of tea/coffee and seek support from one another.
If you live in the Wellington area, the Wellington Suicide-loss Support Group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Newlands Community Centre. Contact Nerys on 027 340 8579.
Visit here for a nationwide listing of suicide-loss peer support groups to see if there is one in your local area.
Suicide-loss Peer Support Groups
Helplines
Free text of call 1737 anytime (24/7) to speak to a trained counsellor or a peer support person
www.1737.org.nz
Need to talk? 1737
Lifeline
Free telephone counselling 24/7 - phone 0800 543 354