Since April 2019, Gumboot Friday has provided more than 122,000 free counselling sessions for over 40,000 rangatahi across Aotearoa. Here’s a just a few small insights from what the numbers tell us.
Making a Real Difference
Surveys filled in by young people before and after counselling show a sharp lift in wellbeing. The proportion rating their life‑satisfaction in the “positive” range jumped from 28 % to 66 % once their sessions wrapped up.
Support That’s Easy to Reach
With face‑to‑face, video and phone options, our network of over 650 qualified practitioners makes help available no matter where a young person lives – from Bluff to Cape Reinga.
What Young People Are Dealing With
The five issues that crop up most often are (click to see the split between genders):
Dollars (and Worry) Saved
At an average market rate of $150 per session, Gumboot Friday currently saves whānau – and the wider health system – about $416 000 every month (just under $5 million a year).
Room to Grow
While our practitioner pool is experienced and diverse, we’re still working to bring in more Māori, Pasifika and male counsellors so every young person can see themselves reflected in the help they receive.
These figures show we’re on the right track, but also remind us how much further we can go. Every donation, every kōrero, and every pair of gumboots pulled on in solidarity helps kick mental‑health stigma to the curb. Kia kaha – and thanks for standing with us.
