Lifeline Northern NSW was officially reopened today with a host of dignitaries present such as Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison, State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Mayor of Lismore Steve Krieg and Lifeline Australia CEO Colin Seery.

Lifeline reopened its Conway Street building in early February this year so it could increase its critical crisis support line work after spending nearly twelve months in two caravans. Today's official ribbon cutting was to highlight the great work of General Manager of Lifeline Northern Rivers Michael Were and his 58 volunteers who answer calls to support people in crisis and to get the message to our community that there is more help than ever should you or your family member or neighbour need it.

When Mr Were addressed the gathering today he gave some sobering statistics just before a pause of reflection .

"In the past four years, over 220 lives across the Northern Rivers have been to for suicide. This beautiful area is unfortunately home to a suicide rate 50% greater than average. We think of those in the Aboriginal community, the LGBTQIA+ community, the Veterans community that are often affected, weigh more regularly than others. And statistics tell us that for every loss of life, 135 others are profoundly affected."

Immediately after the floods, the number of calls to Lifeline Northern Rivers doubled. In the preceding months that number came back to around 50% higher. Mr Were told the Lismore App that Lifeline Northern Rivers is hovering around that same mark today.

"Sometimes it's up, sometimes it's down. One of the big reasons that people are contacting Lifeline at the moment is financial stress. We're seeing that in more people than we have before. So, whether that's a combination of floods, as well as the financial stress or its financial stress for the first time, it's really hard for us to narrow it down to one particular thing. But the compounding impact of stress and trauma in people's lives is it's very much a real thing."

How can the community help those suffering trauma?

"I think we're doing quite well as a community about becoming more and more okay with not being okay and starting to be able to share that," Mr Were said.

"I think rural reticence and the stiff upper lip of many men is where we still have a long way to go. To be comfortable with sharing our feelings. I'm really passionate about the community capacity building work that Lifeline does, that training that we do in the community is really, really exciting. Teaching people how to identify the signs and their neighbors and their friends that they might not be feeling so good. That stuff truly changes lives as well."

"It's not about Lifeline and a call service only, it's about how can you have that safe conversation with somebody across your back fence."

"We receive a lot of calls where a neighbor is encouraging that person to call Lifeline and offering to do it together. And for some people that safety in somebody that they trust, putting in 13 11 14, hitting the call button, staying there for the 30 seconds, one minute or two minutes until the phone is actually answered. That is incredibly powerful. Many, many people right across Australia do that and so we'd encourage the community to continue to do that."

When you think what Lifeline has achieved since the February 28, 2022 big flood for the community and the conditions that they operated in, it needs to be celebrated.

Think back to the Lifeline Food and Clothing Hub at the Lismore Showgrounds that was set up in March. Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin remembered and acknowledged that she used the hub to get new clothes for herself and husband Jim after she swam from her house with only the clothes she was wearing.

(Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin visiting the Lifeline Hub at the Lismore Showground on March 10, 2022)

Then there were the two caravans the Lifeline teams operated out of once they could access their block and the power was switched back on until the February reopening of the Conway Street building.

(Michael Were showing one of the caravans his team of volunteers worked out of for six months in February this year)

The upgraded Conway Street building has seen the capacity of crisis supporters on shift doubled compared to pre-flood, increasing volunteers as a result, as well as growing broader engagement with the Northern Rivers community.

‘We are fully committed to our role in working across the Northern Rivers to create communities where mental health is prioritised and support is readily available for those who need it.” Mr Were said.

‘We also, are reaffirming our commitment to suicide prevention which involves a dedicated and ongoing effort to reduce the incidence of suicide and providing support to individuals, their families, business and organisations across our region.”

Suicide prevention includes education and training, access to other mental health services, community involvement, research and evaluation and postvention support.

Local crisis supporter Pam Mathieson is excited for the centre reopening. “We have all been affected by last year’s devastating floods and it is great that we can re-establish our crisis support home and be able to continue to help local people.”

(Showing off one of the new call centres, Catherine Toomey is one of many Crisis Support Workers for Lifeline)

If you want to find out more about Lifeline and how to become a volunteer, you are invited to visit the centre at 104 Conway Street, Lismore CBD.

If you, or someone you know are feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to connect with Lifeline in the way you feel most comfortable.

You can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14 (24/7), text 0477 131 114 (24/7) or chat to Lifeline online at www.lifeline.org.au (24/7).

Australia’s leading suicide prevention service is celebrating 60 years in 2023. Lifeline operates the 13 11 14 telephone line within 41 centres around the nation as well as a 24/7 crisis text and webchat service.