Hundreds of people around the country are accessing mental health support in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shootings

And Ministry of Health Director-General Ashley Bloomfield says the workforce is equipped to respond.

He says yesterday the 1737 national mental health helpline received aboutfive times the usual requests for help.

Bloomfield says a number of organisations are helping out - including those with links to the affected communities.

He says the support can be provided offsite, by anyone with a telephone and a computer.