LIFELINE volunteers took double the calls compared to last year during December and January.
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Volunteers answered about 4000 calls about issues such as loneliness, family breakdown, grief, loss and financial pressure.
Lifeline Central West crisis centre manager Stephanie Robinson said the number reflected the centre’s increasing capacity to take calls.
If we looked at two years ago, we would’ve been about to take about 1000 calls. It’s about 3800 calls now.
- Stephanie Robinson
“If we looked at two years ago, we would’ve been about to take about 1000 calls. It’s about 3800 calls now,” she said.
Ms Robinson said anxiety was a key issue over the Christmas period.
“Christmas is a time when many issues come up,” she said.
“Anxiety is a big one, [people are] concerned about a family gathering they have to attend because there’s been family conflict.”
Ms Robinson said there were many people who lacked family support who called Lifeline.
“I had a lady I was training and every single call we had was from people who lived alone,” she said.
“Some people do have family but they don’t want to burden them for fear of judgement or the impact that might have on them.”
Ms Robinson said while there was a reduced stigma surrounding mental health, there was still more work to be done.
“I think there’s a much higher awareness of mental health issues and acceptance as whole that they’re real issues,” she said.
“There’s an awful lot more to be done.
“Even today’s experience of callers, it’s people with mental health issues who feel like they’re not understood.”
Ms Robinson said this was particularly the case with limited access to support services.
“Often in regional areas it is harder to get access to services,” she said.
“If you speak to people from remote areas, perhaps there’s more limited options.”
Ms Robinson said it was important for people to make the time to connect with one another.
“Social media is so commonplace that people don’t have real conversations,” she said.
“What we often here [from callers] is ‘thank you for being there’.
“It’s about being present and listening with intent.”
If life is in danger, call 000.