Guest speaker Barrie Dempster told us of his experiences as a volunteer for Lifeline. He has been a Counsellor with Lifeline for many years. Lifeline was founded in 1963 by the late Reverend Dr. Sir Alan Walker, when he took a call from a distressed man who later took his own life. Determined not to let isolation and lack of support be the cause of more deaths, Sir Alan launched a 24-hour crisis support line. In it first 24 hours, 100 calls were answered. The service spread to other capital cities, and after an article in “Time” Magazine, to the world under several differing names.
The service is particularly busy on Mother’s Day and at Christmas. There was an unexpected rise in calls from dairy farmers when the retail price of milk was cut.
A crisis is someone’s personal reaction to an event or experience in their life they find hard to cope with. This service (13 11 14) now answers around 1,800 calls each day, with around 50 calls from people at high risk of suicide.
Lifeline’s services are now made possible through the efforts of around 1,000 staff and 11,000 volunteers, operating from over 60 locations nationwide. Trainee volunteers bear the cost of a series of weekly lectures and role playing, and earn a certificate in counselling.
Barry described how emergency telephones have been installed at several suicide “hot spots”: The Gap in Sydney, Storey Bridge in Brisbane and the Tasman Bridge in Hobart.
Lifeline not only deals with preventing suicide, but gives advice and support for mental illness and depression, domestic and family violence, financial and gambling problems, lonliness, isolation, loss and grief, and substance abuse and addiction.
This service of the Wesley Mission receives 30 million dollars from the Federal Government, and donations from community groups and individuals. Dr John Carre-Riddell thanked Barry for his enlightening description of Lifeline and his experiences as a volunteer.
Images: Barrie Dempster (above) Reverend Dr. Sir Alan Walker (right)