Breaking Down Barriers: Mental Health Pathfinder NZ Offers Expert Support Without Waitlists
Mental Health Pathfinder NZ is an online mental health triage and navigation service founded by a Registered Mental Health Nurse. We provide timely, trauma-informed support without referral criteria or long delays—empowering individuals, whānau, GPs, and employers to access expert mental health guidance when it's needed most.
Finding Your Way: Mental Health Pathfinder NZ Offers Expert Guidance Without Barriers
Mental Health Pathfinder NZ is an independent, online mental health triage and navigation service founded by David March, a Registered Mental Health Nurse with over 20 years of experience across Aotearoa. We offer expert, trauma-informed support with no waitlists, no referral criteria, and no delays—empowering individuals, whānau, general practitioners (GPs), and employers to access guidance and clarity when it matters most.
Kia ora, Aotearoa
I’m David March, a Registered Mental Health Nurse who’s spent more than two decades walking alongside people during their most vulnerable moments. I’ve worked in adult mental health services, crisis lines, GP settings, and workplace wellbeing roles. Through all these roles, I’ve seen both the heart and the hurdles of New Zealand’s mental health system.
Too often, I’ve witnessed people fall through the cracks—whānau stuck on waitlists, patients bounced between services, GPs carrying complex cases alone, and staff returning to work without proper support. I’ve met people discharged with no clear plan, unable to re-access care when things worsened.
Those moments stayed with me. After my time at Te Whatu Ora, I began supporting people to navigate the very systems I once worked within. That practical, hands-on support—focused on guidance, advocacy, and bridging the in-between—led to the creation of Mental Health Pathfinder NZ.
This is not a replacement for the current system. It’s a companion service—working alongside what’s already there, offering clarity, support, and follow-through for those who need help now but don’t meet criteria or can’t wait.
Building a New Model That Complements, Not Competes
After years trying to drive change from within, I came across a quote that stayed with me:
“You don’t change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build something new.”
– Adapted from Buckminster Fuller
Aotearoa’s mental health system does vital work. It saves lives every day. But it’s also under pressure—facing workforce shortages, complex presentations, and service limitations that leave too many people waiting or turning away.
The rise of telehealth during Covid proved that care could be flexible, secure, and timely. It also showed how clinicians could work collaboratively from afar—triaging, assessing, and supporting people without delay. I realised we could apply that same approach to mental health navigation, especially for those who don’t know where to turn.
Mental Health Pathfinder NZ is that model. It’s a compliant, clinically grounded service backed by the New Zealand Nursing Council. It offers independent, expert support while staying aligned with the wider system—filling gaps, not working against them.
Lessons from the Frontlines
My career has taken me across many corners of the mental health landscape:
Adult Mental Health Services – Te Whatu Ora:
For 15 years, I worked in adult mental health—supporting people in both community and inpatient settings across the Waikato region. I led assessments, developed care plans, and worked with multidisciplinary teams to support people through everything from acute crises to long-term recovery. I saw how services could change lives—but also how strict criteria, stretched resources, and long delays could leave people stranded. That experience lit the spark to try something new.
Rural Mental Health – GP Collaboration in Raglan:
In later years with Te Whatu Ora, I set up a community mental health clinic in my hometown of Raglan, operating out of a GP practice and community house. I supported GPs with assessments, education, and referrals—often remotely. It became clear that GPs needed immediate, reliable mental health input, not only for crises but for common issues like anxiety, depression, BPAD, burnout, or sleep problems.
Workplace Mental Health – WINTEC, 2020:
When Covid hit, I joined WINTEC’s People & Culture team, just as 20,000 students and 900 staff were thrown into lockdown. I led the mental health response during this time—triaging concerns remotely, liaising with wellbeing teams, and helping staff and students adjust. That year, we earned Gold Standard WorkWell Accreditation. I also learned how to support recovery through employment law—facilitating leave, accommodations, and phased returns.
Telehealth Crisis Triage – Whakarongorau (2022–):
In my current role at Whakarongorau, I work on the national mental health teletriage line, responding to calls from whānau, GPs, emergency services, and the public across nearly every district in New Zealand. This fast-paced, vital work centers on immediate safety and triaging callers to appropriate services. However, crisis lines are designed for quick assessments, not in-depth counseling or ongoing support. Each day, I connect with individuals—often over 20 calls per shift—who are struggling to access care. Many need more comprehensive evaluations and sustained guidance to navigate their next steps, yet these needs frequently remain unmet due to limitations in the system. These experiences, hearing people voice the gaps daily, inspired me to create Mental Health Pathfinder NZ—a service dedicated to providing expert, trauma-informed navigation and support.
Mental Health Pathfinder NZ: What We Do
We are not a crisis service, but we’re here for the space between “not urgent” and “not okay.” If someone’s in danger, crisis teams or 111 are essential. But when someone needs support, direction, or advocacy—and they’re not in immediate risk—that’s where we step in.
For Individuals
- Comprehensive Assessments: Trauma-informed, whole-person evaluations that go beyond symptoms to explore root causes—like burnout, grief, or missed diagnoses.
- Guidance & Reports: Understand your options, access written reports to support service access, and gain tools to advocate for yourself.
- Ongoing Support: I stay involved, providing check-ins and follow-through until a sustainable plan is in place.
For Whānau
- Mental Health First Aid: Learn how to support loved ones with confidence, compassion, and cultural sensitivity.
- Discreet & Respectful: Minimal data collection, first-name-only options, and sessions tailored to what feels safe for you or your whānau.
- Whānau-Centered Guidance: I work with whānau, not just individuals, helping families stay connected and supported.
For Employers
- Return-to-Work Support: Guidance for staff facing burnout, fatigue, or trauma—supporting phased returns or accommodations.
- HR Collaboration: I provide insight into mental health recovery and can assist with interpreting medical reports or liaising with GPs or EAPs.
- Follow-Through: I don’t just advise—I stick around to ensure plans are working.
For GPs & Health Professionals
- Time-Saving Assessments: I conduct in-depth evaluations that GPs can use to guide care.
- Navigation Expertise: I’ve worked within Te Whatu Ora systems for years—I know who to call, where to refer, and how to escalate.
- Continuity & Collaboration: I ensure the patient isn’t lost between referrals.
Why This Service Exists
The gaps I’ve seen—on crisis lines, in clinics, and across communities—are real. They’re not about blame. They’re about capacity. Our current system is stretched thin. People fall between categories. Waitlists grow. Services mean well but can’t always follow through.
Mental Health Pathfinder NZ is designed to walk with people through that complexity—not in competition with existing care, but in collaboration. It’s about:
- No waitlists – support starts when you reach out
- No referral criteria – anyone can access help
- Expert navigation – based on lived system knowledge
- Sustained partnership – I stay with you until we find what works
Let’s Walk Together
If you or someone you care about is feeling lost in the system, overwhelmed by options, or unsure where to go next—reach out.
I’m here to listen, assess, and help chart a course forward.
Email: dave@mentalhealthpathfinder.co.nz
Contact Form: Visit mentalhealthpathfinder.co.nz
Secure & Compliant: All communication is encrypted, in line with NZ privacy law
Together, we can navigate the system—without judgment, without delay, and without giving up hope.
Ngā mihi,
David March, RMHN BSc
Mental Health Pathfinder NZ
