Resources
Many of the tools, books, and articles listed here have been recommended by members of our aviation community who found them valuable along the way. Because every situation is unique, what works for one person may not suit another, and inclusion here does not constitute a formal endorsement by PAN.
This section is designed as a tool for self-guided support. While these resources offer practical perspective and strategies, they do not replace a conversation with a trained peer or a medical professional, nor are they a substitute for formal counselling or therapy.
Have a resource that supported you or a colleague? We’d love to include it. Please reach out to us at support@pan.org.nz.
Immediate Help
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Lifeline - 0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354) or text ‘HELP’ to 4357. Lifeline Aotearoa has been helping New Zealanders in distress and crisis for over 60 years (7am - midnight).
Mental Health Crisis Helpline – Free call or text 1737 for support from a trained counsellor (24/7).
Victim Support – 0800 VICTIM - (0800 842 846) support for people affected by crime and traumatic events, 24/7.
Samaritans – 0800 726 666. Support for anyone who is lonely or in distress (24/7).
Healthline – 0800 611 116 Health advice and information from healthcare professionals (24/7).
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Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 828 865). TAUTOKO is operated by trained and experienced social service practitioners who have undergone suicide prevention training (7am - midnight).
Lifeline - 0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354) or text ‘HELP’ to 4357. Lifeline Aotearoa has been helping New Zealanders in distress and crisis for over 60 years (7am - midnight).
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Shine – 0508 744 633. Confidential family violence support, information and advice to the community (24/7).
Are You OK - 0800 456 450. To talk about family violence and find help for yourself or others (24/7).
Women's Refuge Crisis Line – 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843). For women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family (24/7).
Pet Refuge - 09 975 0850. Pet Refuge provides a safe, temporary haven for pets experiencing family violence, providing expert care, compassion and security. Sadly most emergency housing providers and refuges do not allow pets, so victims stay in danger to protect them.
National Rape & Sexual Abuse Crisis Line – 0800 883 300. Support after rape or sexual assault (24/7).
Safe to Talk - Phone 0800 044 334 or text 4334 to access a trained counsellor. Sexual harm information and support helpline for anyone affected by sexual harm.
24/7 HELPLINE – 0800 623 1700 or text 8236. Support for sexual abuse survivors (24/7).
NZ Police: Family Harm Resources - Access official resources, videos, and toolkits detailing the New Zealand Police approach to family violence.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
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The Grief Centre – 0800 331 333. For grief counselling, support groups and information about all forms of loss, grief, trauma or difficult change (weekdays 8.30 - 5pm).
Huarahi Ora - National Bereavement Triage and Coordination Service - 0800 437 009. If you or anyone you know is impacted by a suspected suicide loss and seeking support (24/7).
Aoake te Rā – 0800 000 053. Free counselling for people bereaved by suicide (weekdays 8.30 - 5pm).
Information for whānau, friends and communities after a suicide.
Support group pages for local and face-to-face bereavement support groups.
🎥The three secrets of resilient people | Lucy Hone | TEDxChristchurch
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Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202. To talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions (24/7).
Anxiety phone line – 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389). For people with all forms of anxiety and families and friends (24/7).
CALM (Computer Assisted Learning for the Mind) – Created by the University of Auckland, providing direct, evidence-based mental exercises specifically designed for fast grounding during acute physical anxiety and panic.
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Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand – Extensive, downloadable self-guided toolkits for identifying burnout stages, managing occupational stress, and building daily resilience resources.
Just a Thought: Tame Your Stress – A free, clinically validated online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) course designed specifically to break the cycle of chronic stress and overwhelm.
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Anxiety New Zealand – 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389). Beyond general support, their 24/7 helpline offers immediate, real-time physiological de-escalation coaching for someone experiencing an active panic attack.
CALM (Computer Assisted Learning for the Mind) – Created by the University of Auckland, providing direct, evidence-based mental exercises specifically designed for fast grounding during acute physical anxiety and panic.
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Mental Health Foundation - About post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), symptoms and recovery.
Healthify – About PTSD, symptoms and recovery.
NHS - Work through a self-help guide for PTSD and CPTSD based on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Therapy (TF-CT).
SANE – PTSD factsheet, help for family and friends.
🎥 Post traumatic stress – the real toll it takes on people’s lives (part 1)
Aviation & Career Performance
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NZALPA 24/7 Accident and Incident assistance - +64 9 255 1500
NZALPA Accident and Incident Advice
NZALPA Accident and Incident Checklist
PAN NZ - What is a Stress Reaction? A guide to Managing a Stress Reaction
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CAA Fatigue Risk Management – Operational calculators, guidelines, and toolkits for managing aviation fatigue limits.
Sleep Health Foundation – Clinical information sheets and evidence-based strategies tailored specifically for managing severe sleep disruption, broken circadian rhythms, and sleep debt.
SKYbrary Fatigue & Circadian Rhythm Disruption - Explains how shift work causes the internal clock to conflict with work patterns, producing insomnia, cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and dangerous fatigue. Written specifically for aviation professionals.
IATA Fatigue Risk Management Hub - Resource hub covering both prescriptive and performance-based approaches to crew fatigue management to prevent performance degradation.
FAA Pilot Safety Brochures & Circadian Rhythm Resources - Short, practical brochures acquainting the aviation community with physiological challenges, environmental cues (temperature, light, meal timing), and safety protocols.
CASA Fatigue Management Resources Guide - Covers biomathematical models of fatigue, alertness prediction tools, and time-awake science. Highly relevant given Australasian regulatory alignment.
CDC Aircrew and Jet Lag - NIOSH guidance covering the long-term health effects of circadian disruption in aircrew, including occupational health and prevention strategies.
Pilot Fatigue and the Window of Circadian Low (Sleep and Vigilance, 2026) - Peer-reviewed article synthesizing evidence from chronobiology and aviation human factors, focusing on the Window of Circadian Low (WOCL) between 02:00–06:00 and Borbély's Two-Process Model.
Airways Magazine "How Airline Crews Plan Their Sleep" - Examines sleep planning, time zone management, and jet lag recovery from a pilot and flight attendant perspective, including melatonin and suprachiasmatic nucleus function.
Pilot Pointer – "Sleep Strategies for Pilots: Beating Jet Lag and Shift Work Fatigue" - Covers wearable fatigue-monitoring technology (e.g., Readiband) and circadian forecasting apps synced with flight schedules.
Vertical Mag Operational Stress and Sleep - Helicopter-focused article exploring circadian rhythm sleep disorders in shift workers and managing the mismatch between sleep patterns and natural body cycles.
Pilots Who Ask Why "How to Manage Fatigue and Survive Night Shifts" - Written and narrated by a working HEMS pilot, covering shift management strategies, circadian consistency, and how sleep medications impact REM quality.
📖 Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker (2017) - The most accessible and impactful sleep book written for a general audience. Widely recommended by physicians and aviation professionals, neuroscientist Matthew Walker covers the consequences of sleep deprivation on performance, judgment, and health.
📖 Fatigue in Aviation, John & J. Lynn Caldwell (2016) - The aviation-specific bible on this topic. Covers the performance, mood, and safety problems associated with sleep restriction and circadian disruptions in operational settings, explaining the biological bases of fatigue and presenting practical countermeasures.
📖 Sleep, Nick Littlehales (2016) - Practical and performance-focused techniques from an elite sleep coach to Premier League football clubs and Olympic sports teams. Focuses on sleep cycles, recovery, and achieving peak sleep quality - highly applicable to shift workers.
📖 Why Pilots Sleep, Various aviation fatigue researchers (National Academies Press) - An authoritative report on pilot fatigue covering sleep, wakefulness, circadian rhythms, and fatigue in depth, and is available as a free PDF download at NAP.edu. Authoritative and free.
📖 The Circadian Code, Satchin Panda (2019) - Written by a leading circadian rhythm scientist at the Salk Institute. Translates cutting-edge research on light, meal timing, and sleep into practical daily strategies - highly relevant to crew crossing time zones.
📖 BLIS™ For Insomniacs, Allan Baker (3rd Edition) - Developed by an aviation psychologist with decades of experience working alongside commercial pilots, Allan introduces the BLIS™ technique - a practical, learnable method to actively control and bring on sleep. Designed for anyone whose life or shift schedule is impacted by broken or insufficient sleep, it treats getting to sleep as an active skill rather than something you passively wait for.
🎧 The Matt Walker Podcast - Short, science-backed episodes dedicated entirely to sleep biology, sleep stages, and practical tools hosted by UC Berkeley neuroscientist Dr. Matt Walker.
🎥 Huberman Lab – Dr. Matt Walker 6-Part Sleep Series - Comprehensive 6-part video/audio series covering the role of sleep in performance, hormone regulation, immune function, mood, and determining individual sleep chronotypes.
🎥 Huberman Lab – "Master Your Sleep" Solo Episode - Standalone video/audio episode on evidence-based sleep tools, covering light exposure timing, temperature, supplements, and behavioral protocols.
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NZALPA Positive Performance Course - The Positive Performance course was designed to assist aviation professionals in managing stress and anxiety, that can negatively affect performance.
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PROSTAN ATC (Professional Standards Programme) - A programme helping NZALPA controllers. Helping each other to achieve and maintain our Professional Standards and resolving conflicts.
PROSTAN Pilots (Professional Standards Programme) - A programme helping NZALPA pilots. Helping each other to achieve and maintain our Professional Standards and resolving conflicts.
Employment New Zealand – 0800 20 90 20. Free, independent, and confidential support framework for identifying workplace bullying, navigating internal disputes, and accessing formal mediation services.
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Wellbeing Aotearoa (Health New Zealand) – Tools and lifestyle frameworks for shift workers to manage health, stay connected during isolation, and preserve physical wellbeing on irregular clocks.
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Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) - Perfectionism – World-renowned, free, self-guided module series breaking down maladaptive perfectionism, fear of failure, and how to build realistic self-evaluation metrics.
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🎥Don't Feel Ready for Command? For the first officer going for command who doesn't feel ready: why that feeling is normal, why it never fully arrives before you make the move, and how to tell the difference between the nerves that mean you're taking it seriously and the nerves that mean you haven't done the work.
Relationships & Family
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Yellow Brick Road – 0800 732 825. Supporting families towards mental wellbeing: for families who have a loved one experiencing mental health challenges (weekdays 8am – 4.30 pm).
Plunketline – 0800 933 922. Free parent helpline and advice service available to all families, whānau and caregivers (24/7).
Family Services - The Family Services Directory is a searchable online database to search about family support organisations and the services/programmes they offer to support New Zealand families.
Parent Help – 0800 568 856. For parents/whānau seeking support, advice and practical strategies on all parenting concerns (9am – 9pm, 7 days a week).
Family Works - 04 473 5025. Social work services for families (weekdays 9am – 4pm).
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Youthline – 0800 376 633, text 234 or online chat. Support for young people, their whānau and friends (24/7).
The Low Down – A space created with rangatahi, for rangatahi. Find support here for your hauora, identity, culture and mental health.
What's Up – 0800 WHATSUP (0800 942 8787). A safer place for Tamariki to talk (11am – 11pm, for 5–19 year olds).
Gumboot Friday - Free Counselling for all Young Kiwis.
Skylight – 0800 299 100. Supports children, young people, and whānau through tough times by providing counselling, resources, and programmes (weekdays 9am-5pm).
SPARX – An online e-therapy tool provided to help young people learn skills to deal with obstacles in life.
Whitu - An app for young people and adults who feel overwhelmed or stressed. Apple App Store and Google Play
Clear Head - A digital tool designed to take rangatahi on a journey to explore their values and strengthen their identity.
Headstrong – A free app for young people to help you cope with stress. Includes the Aroha chatbot.
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Sorted – 0800 345 123. New Zealand’s free, independent financial guide. Offers completely anonymous budgeting calculators, debt management guides, and financial crisis tools with zero commercial bias.
MoneyTalks – 0800 345 123 or text 4029. A free, completely confidential financial help line connecting individuals with local budget advisors to manage sudden income drops or debt stress.
Health & Lifestyle
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HIMS - Talk to a peer. This programme is for members of the aviation community, aimed at helping anyone whose use of alcohol or other drugs is of concern. A cornerstone of HIMS is the understanding that substance dependence is a treatable medical condition. HIMS is modelled on well-established overseas programmes which have assisted thousands of pilots return to work. It is an industry wide effort in which employers, unions and the CAA work together and preserve careers and further flight safety.
Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat or text 8681 to access a trained counsellor. For people dealing with alcohol or other drug problems. Māori, Pasifika and youth lines available (24/7).
Gambling Helpline - 0800 654 655 or text 8006 to access a trained counsellor. For help if you are gambling or are concerned about someone else’s gambling. Māori, Pasifika and youth lines available (24/7).
Quit Line – 0800 778 778 or text 4006. Quitline can also help you quit vaping (even if you’re not smoking). Available for all ages.
Familial Trust - 03 981 1093. Support to family/whānau who are impacted by a family members misuse of alcohol and drugs.
Netsafe – 0508 638 723. Support for online safety, including harassment or bullying, scams and fraud, and harmful digital content (weekdays 8am – 8pm, weekends and public holidays 9am – 5pm).
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New Zealand Pilots' Mutual Benefit Fund (MBF) - The Pilots’ MBF operates to assist its members who have either had their NZ CAA Class 1 or CASA Medical Certificates suspended or disqualified.
New Zealand ATC Mutual Benefit Fund (MBF) - The ATC MBF operates to assist its members in New Zealand who are unable to work as an air traffic controller due to the suspension or cancellation of their ATC License on medical grounds.
Safe Haven - Providing New Zealand’s pilots and air traffic controllers (ATC) with a confidential space to seek advice about health conditions that may affect their ability to safely fly or operate.
Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand – The central portal for accessing public healthcare pathways, managing long-term chronic illness diagnoses, and processing medical rehabilitation systems.
CAA Clinical guidelines for pilots and air traffic controllers - CAA and CASA are developing joint clinical practice guidelines. These guidelines provide medical examiners, pilots and controllers, and other health professionals with information about a range of medical conditions that affect medical certification. This includes advice about how a medical condition may impact fitness to fly or operate, what reports or tests are required, and when they are required.
CAA Regulatory information sheets - A series of fact sheets and case studies to show the aeromedical impacts of some health conditions.
CAA How to report a change in medical condition - What to do if your medical condition changes while holding a medical certificate.
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Women's Health Action – A trust providing evidence-based, independent health information covering reproductive health, maternal mental health, and structural wellbeing.
Menopause New Zealand – Clear, clinical guidance on navigating perimenopause and menopause, focusing heavily on managing brain fog, sleep disruption, and physical changes while working.
New Zealand Early Menopause Support Group - Dedicated New Zealand support group providing compassionate peer connection, practical guidance, and resources for women experiencing premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or early menopause before age 40. Features peer-led support, evidence-based information on fertility impact and hormone therapy, and strategies for managing sudden hormonal shifts while maintaining workplace wellbeing.
Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) - Evidence-based clinician tools, patient fact sheets, and practical guidance on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), lifestyle strategies, and managing perimenopausal symptoms in demanding work environments.
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa (PADA) – A trusted national charity offering specialized tools, self-screening checklists, and education for parents navigating extreme anxiety, antenatal depression during pregnancy, or postpartum depression after birth.
CAA Pregnancy Guidelines for Crew – Essential, direct access to the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand's official medical standards regarding operational limits during pregnancy, self-declaration duties, and medical certificate reinstatement protocols postpartum.
Miscarriage Support NZ – A dedicated, compassionate New Zealand volunteer network providing immediate emotional framing, counseling resources, and grief support for women and partners navigating early pregnancy loss.
Sands New Zealand – 0508 SANDS (0508 72 63 72). A national peer-support organization providing vital, confidential 24/7 care, local support groups, and resources for parents and whānau suffering the devastating loss of a baby at any stage of gestation.
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Men's Health Week - Men’s Health Week aims to help you get right on top of your biggest and most important asset – your health.
Tough Talk - Tough Talk is on a mission to reduce the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. We provide short documentaries and tools focused on men's mental wellbeing .
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Autism New Zealand – 0800 288 476. Resources, toolkits, and education regarding adult autism, focusing on workplace masking, communication preferences, and cognitive energy conservation.
ADHD New Zealand – Dedicated support hub for adults navigating ADHD, balancing executive dysfunction, and understanding neurodivergent traits in structured professional environments.
🎧 ADHD Chatter Podcast – A podcast for curious minds who want to understand why we think, feel and behave the way we do. Hosted by Alex Partridge, each episode brings together leading experts and powerful personal stories to explore ADHD, autism, mental health, psychology and the fascinating science of being human.
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EDANZ – 0800 2 EDANZ (0800 233 269). For information, support and resources about supporting someone with an eating disorder.
Bodywhys – Downloadable self-help books and peer-support structural materials are considered gold-standard resources for adults quietly managing disordered eating.
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OutLine Aotearoa – 0800 OUTLINE (0800 688 5463). Provides support to Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and Rainbow communities, their friends, whānau, and those questioning (7 days, 6-9pm).
Rainbow Youth - Providing support, information, resources & advocacy for Aotearoa's queer, gender diverse, takatāpui and intersex youth.
Let's Talk: A Resource Guide for Parents - A resource developed by OUTLine with information and advice for parents of queer and gender diverse people.
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Age Concern - Committed to supporting every older person to feel connected, have positive choices, and to age well.
Alzheimers New Zealand - Alzheimers NZ is the lead organisation at a national level representing people and their whānau living with dementia.
Health & Disability Advocacy Service - Nationwide Advocacy Service provides free support with health or disability complaints, Rights information, empowerment and education.
Carers New Zealand - Established in the early 1990s by and for family carers, Carers NZ acts as the national peak body providing information, advice, learning and support for carers in our network.
Supporting a person with dementia - This booklet gives you information and tips on helping a person with dementia with their personal care, such as washing and dressing, nutrition, sleeping and travelling, as well as communication and ideas for meaningful activities and ways you can look after yourself – which is very important, too.
Elder Abuse Response Line - Call 0800 32 668 65 or text 5032 to access a registered nurse. For those who are worried they are victims of elder abuse and want to speak with someone.
A Guide for Carers - Information for people who care for and support family or friends with a health condition, a disability, an injury, or a physical or mental illness. If you’re caring for someone and want to know more about the kinds of support available, the Guide is a great starting point.
Eldernet Group - New Zealand’s most trusted provider of information for older people and their support networks. Our aim is to empower older kiwis to make decisions that are right for them, by allowing them to access a wealth of information for free.
Tools & Self-Assessment
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Insight Timer – The world’s largest library of free guided meditations with 340,000 tracks from psychologists, spiritual leaders and mindfulness teachers.
The Greater Good Science Center - The Greater Good Science Center studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.
Happier Kinder Together | Action for Happiness - Action for Happiness brings people together and provides practical resources. Learn evidence-based skills for happier living, feel a sense of belonging and commit to personal action to create more happiness, for ourselves and others.
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Headstrong - Headstrong is a free app that helps you navigate life’s challenges and feel more in control. It teaches practical skills for stress, anxiety, study pressure, relationships, addictions and more. Evidence-based wellbeing and resilience support to young people.
Just a thought – Free online therapy courses and resources to support anxiety, depression, stress, sleep and other mental health challenges.
Aunty Dee – A free tool for anyone who needs help working through problems.
Beating The Blues - Online cognitive behavioral therapy treatment for depression and anxiety.
Manaaki Ora - A wellbeing app that provides guidance and tips for self-help or for supporting others.
🎧The Mindset Mentor Podcast - Designed for anyone desiring motivation, direction, and focus in life. Host Rob Dial blends neurology, neurobiology, psychology, early childhood development, and cognitive behavioral therapy so that you can understand the way your brain and body work together.
🎧Mental Toughness Podcast - Where high performers learn to build resilience, master their mindset, and dominate under pressure.
🎧The Imperfects Podcast - Features candid conversations with high-profile guests who vulnerably share their struggles, insecurities, and failures. Alongside resident psychologist Dr. Emily Musgrove, the hosts blend humor with deep insights to explore topics like anxiety, comparison, and imposter syndrome, offering valuable takeaways to help listeners embrace their own imperfect lives.