More crisis supporters are needed to help meet the growing number of calls to Lifeline.

Tomorrow (Thursday, May 2) Lifeline Northern NSW will host an information session and welcome those who would like to learn more about the opportunity to volunteer as a crisis supporter at their Lismore centre.

After the initial training phase, crisis supporters are ready to take supervised live calls as part of their 12-month internship to become accredited crisis supporters.

Kathryn Russell, a youth program worker has volunteered with Lifeline for a year. Kathryn is a student mentor for new recruits and remembers what it was like when she first started volunteering as a crisis supporter at Lifeline in Lismore, NSW.

“The training was one of the most unexpected journeys of my life so far. I was not expecting to learn so much about myself and about other people. About how best to communicate, to truly listen, with empathy and non-judgement. The trainers and mentors were phenomenal, and I felt so supported throughout the entire process” Ms Russell said.

Ms Russell started as a crisis supporter after experiencing a period of grief in her life and realising how lonely it was. She wanted to help people going through hard times and also felt it was a great opportunity to gain more experience working with people going through crisis or with mental health struggles, whilst she undertook studies in counselling.

“There are people out there who are going through really hard times, and being able to connect with them, even for a short time, is such a privilege. My fellow crisis supporters and team at Lifeline are wonderfully supportive and self-care is a top priority in the Lifeline workplace, which I love,” Russell said.

“The training prepared me to stay calm in some of the most intense situations. Situations I never thought I would be able to handle. Being supported means none of the heavy stuff leaves with me when I finish my shift.”

Kathryn recalls a time when she knew her role as a volunteer had an impact.

“This particular caller was ready to end their life and was calling as a last attempt to feel some connection. During our conversation, they were able to tell their story, explain their crisis, feel heard and validated. Together, we were able to come up with a safety plan and at the end of the call they felt they could go on and live another day even though things were so very hard for them.”

“We don’t always know how our help seekers will be when the call ends and their lives continue, but to know that for even one more day they can go on, is so valuable. And knowing that if they needed to, they could call Lifeline back and there would be another Crisis Supporter ready to help them through another day. That feeling when you end your shift is hard to put into words, the charge you feel from genuine, meaningful connection.”

Lifeline crisis support team leader, Lisa Barnes said crisis supporters help Lifeline to answer more calls to 13 11 14 from the growing number of people needing someone to talk to in their time of need. Ms Barnes said there has been a 35 per cent growth in demand for Lifeline services since before the COVID 19 pandemic. There has been a recent increase in calls from people battling cost of living pressures.

“It is important that our 13 11 14 crisis supporters come from all walks of life, aged groups and cultural backgrounds – including students and young people. Crisis supporters don’t need to have experience in counselling, we provide extensive training and support to help empathic people to be there for others – to listen and offer hope,” said Barnes.

Crisis supporters typically work one four-hour shift per fortnight. The initial training is done online alongside other students, several hours a week over eight to ten weeks, before the internship stage commences. There is flexibility in both training times and volunteering rosters.

Lifeline is holding online information sessions for any community member interested in volunteering from 5 to 6:30pm on May 2 at their centre in Lismore. Register at https://pages.lifelinedirect.org.au/lismoreinfosession. More information on being a crisis supporter, local Lifeline services and other ways to support Lifeline is available at northernNSW.lifeline.org.au.

Lifeline Northern NSW is one of 43 Lifeline centres nationally from where more than 4,000 crisis supporters respond to around one million calls annually - one call every 30 seconds.

Nine Australians die by suicide every day and more than 65,000 Australians make a suicide attempt each year. One-in-six Australians aged 16-85 have experienced suicidal thoughts. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 to 44.

If this story causes issues for you please contact Lifeline 24 hours - phone 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 or chat via lifeline.org.au

Lifeline support

·      24 hour crisis support: Ph 13 11 14. Text: 0477 13 11 14. Chat online: www.lifeline.org.au

·      northernNSW.lifeline.org.au