More people than ever call Lifeline for help. Currently Lifeline receives over a million calls a year to 13 11 14.
But to make sure that it can continue helping everyone who calls for help, now Lifeline urgently needs a little boost in the form of more volunteers.
It is calling for members of the community to become volunteers crisis supporters at Lifeline.
This unique volunteering opportunity includes an initial training and accreditation process, supporting interested individuals to develop a new skillset that can be used to help others and save lives.
Volunteer crisis supporters will also join a great team of compassionate individuals at Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney at Smeaton Grange who give their time to help ensure no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.
The statistics on suicide are quite sobering:
- Nine Australians die every day by suicide which is more than double the road toll;
- Seventy-five percent of those who take their own life are male;
- Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44 and the suicide rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts;
- An estimated one in three Australians report feeling lonely.
Leesa Potter, general manager of Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention says crisis supporters are the heart of Lifeline.
“Every time they answer a 13 11 14 call from a help seeker, they could be saving a life,’’ Ms Potter said.
“More people are reaching out for support than ever before, and it is so important we have enough people available to answer the calls.”
Places are still available for the next crisis support worker training course which begins in September.
If you’re interested but can’t join the next course, remember that these courses run throughout the year.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more can call 4645 7200 or visit the website lifelinemws.org.au/crisis-support-training.
If you, or someone you care for, needs support or is thinking about ending their life, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, via text on 0477 13 11 14, or online chat at lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat.
