Overcome Isolation and Loneliness

MATES Cafe supports adults, teens and elders of all gender, culture, ethnicity and personal beliefs through life’s challenges such as relationship breakdown, depression, anxiety, loss and grief, bullying, loneliness and isolation. Meet with a MATE at your local cafe for the emotional support and encouragement you need to find new direction and meaning in your life.
MATES Cafe Facilitators across New Zealand are trained to be on call for someone in need. To sit down with them in a local cafe for an hour, being a good MATE and helping them through a point of crisis in their life. Not about therapy, fixing them or giving advice but simply being there, really hearing them and helping them to find new direction.
Thank You for Joining Us!
Darkness into Light - Auckland and Hamilton,
New Zealand - Saturday, 11th May
An annual 5 km walk to raise awareness about suicide and self-harm prevention. Together we are creating a world where suicide and self-harm have been replaced by encouragement, hope and self-care. We can all play a part in preventing suicide by letting others know we care.
You were part of over 250,000 people from more than 20 countries... Over the past year 668 New Zealanders chose to take their own life. The ripple effect of suicide across the community cannot be quantified and is not acceptable. Together we can make a difference! Thank you for joining us.

Helping Others Overcome Isolation and Loneliness
Join us and help prevent relationship violence, depression and suicide

MATES is a not-for-profit organisation training thousands of New Zealanders to be MATES Cafe facilitators; to drastically reduce family violence, bullying, depression and suicide, including the associated isolation and loneliness. We are looking for good people who wish to become the best they can be by progressing through our development and training courses and give back to and empower the community.

Over the past year 668 New Zealanders chose to take their own life. For each person who completes suicide, 10 more are treated in the emergency room or hospitalised for attempted suicide. For every attempt, experts estimate that another 50 have suicidal thoughts when going through a rough time (10 of which are at high risk with suicide plans already formulated).
                                 
This means that there are over 334,000 New Zealanders each year who need a MATE to turn to in a time of need
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​“How many times have you felt isolated or lonely to the degree that you have questioned whether life is worth living?” says Kerry Babbage, founder of the MATES Organisation and the MATES Cafe programme. “The sad reality is that every two minutes, a New Zealander experiences this same traumatic feeling. That’s over 300,000 people each year questioning their reason for living because they are feeling sad, isolated and alone. Many of these people hurt themselves to the degree of hospitalisation or even taking their own life.”

Nationwide, MATES Cafe are looking for people who want to make a difference in the lives of others undergoing life challenges. We recognise and value your life experience as a strength to draw on. Things like relationship breakdown, loss and grief, depression, anxiety, drugs or alcohol, gambling, bullying or any other challenge all add to and develop your character, experience and skill sets so you are better equipped in relating to others going through challenging times.
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Being a MATES Facilitator will positively impact your own life in an enormous way... leading to better relationships, greater communication, enhanced leadership skills and the opportunity of being there for someone in need, which could save their life. Join us today and make a difference!
Be a good MATE and meet with someone in need for a coffee or cuppa and together let's empower others to live happy and fulfilling lives...
MATES Cafe is a Network of everyday people of all ages, cultures and ethnicity (including teens, elders, lgbt+) who are trained to meet with a person at a local cafe in a time of crisis or isolation and offer emotional support and encouragement.
​MATES empower open communication to help bring people together
Resolve relationship problems and prevent relationship violence, depression and suicide. 
MATES is a Not-for-profit Organisation and Registered Charity No. CC45411        
Discover the hidden power of relationship to transform your life in a relaxed, supportive environment empowering open communication. Resolve emotional triggering so you can more easily relate with your partner, children, work colleagues, and friends. Help eliminate isolation and bring Kiwi communities closer together.   Contact 0800 RELATE | www.mates.cafe | hello@mates.cafe
MATES Interview
MATES Cafe Brochure.pdf
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Better MAN by SONIC DELUSION

We Need Your Help To Help Others

MATES Programmes, Workshops and Events are subsidised by the amazing generosity of those who see the huge benefit to the community in what we do - MATES Initiatives established in 2003 provide a real answer to help lower the horrific rates of Suicide, Depression and Relationship Violence and create positive role-models for our community and our children.
Please take the time to thank our wonderful sponsors and maybe think about helping us with your time, expertise or financially... ​
MATES TRUST NZ is a Registered Charitable Trust: RN CC 44541 and Member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand.

Donate via Givealittle

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“In the short time I have attended MATES I learnt about the mask we can all wear and it felt like mine was going to crack.. upon leaving that meeting I also felt like I had a hole in my safety net… Gradually my life has started to change every time, around and in that energy of MATES, I grow closer to that Authentic Life we long for and deserve... I personally look forward to the time and challenges to come.”

Ricky

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“There have been tears and laughs as we share together. Quite often I am surprised by what happens during our sharing together. I've found a healing takes place as we humble ourselves and share from our hearts. There is opportunity for the guys to really encourage those who are going through a rough patch in their lives. There is a great deal of wisdom that is shared and I have personally grown and learnt a lot through the times of encouragement…I have really enjoyed the challenging process that I have seen in my own Life and I hope that many other men will come on board so that MATES can make a difference in their Lives as well.” 

Kevin

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“This was a fairly dramatic and highly unpleasant time that left me highly stressed and in a lot of self-doubt…I have attended regular meetings since then and have found a huge level of comfort amongst members. It is a very non-judgmental environment where I feel accepted for all of who and what I am. I gain huge amounts of clarity and insight from all members and meetings.”

Lawrence

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“This for me was the start of something awesome. Men here were interested in where I had been, but more so where I was going. This question was one I wanted answers for and they seem to give me a sense of hope which I hadn’t seen before. It was incredible the feelings I had from these meetings and I wanted more of it. I knew it was good for me…"

Peter

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Have a cuppa with a MATE...
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else
is the greatest accomplishment” 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson