The Mental Health Foundation says a Government system of partially funding counselling services is stupid.

It's backing a psychotherapist's calls for counselling and talk therapy to free for all New Zealanders saying the cost of appointments is out of reach for some people.

Mental Health Foundation CEO Shaun Robinson says there's a confusing array of counselling support.

He says access to subsidised counselling differs between DHBs and can depends on where a person lives.

"Where it is subsidised, there are often very long waiting lines. It often leads to people's situations becoming much worse."