There are calls for New Zealand to follow Australia's example when it comes to free counselling.

This comes after an Otago University review of more than 20 mental health studies around the Canterbury earthquakes.

It's found that while public health services were pushed to their limits, free counselling had a huge impact.

Massey University clinical psychology lecturer Ian De Terte told Kate Hawkesby it's hard to measure just how much the service has helped down the line

"It's almost certainly reduced the rate of mental health concerns and it's time we followed Australia's example."

De Terte says they offer subsidized mental health care all the time.