Thousands of Mallee people calling Lifeline in crisis throughout pandemic

A SILENT crisis has been gripping the greater Swan Hill region over the past 12 months, as more people are turning to Lifeline for help.

Mallee residents have made more than 10,000 calls to Lifeline in the past year – up 1500 on the year prior.

Executive officer Lisa Renato said the unprecedented number of calls was a direct result of the challenges faced as Covid took grip.

“We’ve seen a lot more people who are lonely and isolated, cut off, overwhelmed, experiencing financial burden – and it’s directly related to challenges the pandemic has thrown at the world,” Ms Renata said.

“In the financial year ending June 2020 we answered 9500 calls, and so far we’ve surpassed that quite significantly.

“We’re already at 10,235 calls and June isn’t over – I expect by the time June finishes we’ll be at more than 11,000 calls.”

Contrary to popular belief, the service is not solely a suicide hotline.

“Traditionally the community has seen us as a lifeline when people are in a dark place and needing imminent support for a suicide attempt, but we provide crisis support to vulnerable Australians across the board.” Ms Renato said.

“People needing someone to listen to them and help them see the path through and help them find the support they need locally, so that when they hang up the phone, they have a clear path to remain safe, and support to remain mentally strong.

“We have robust procedures and frameworks to make sure those people get the help they need, when they need it.”

Suicidal callers are still very common, and there is extensive training for phone councillors to assist them.

“If I think about the calls we get at our centre, I would say one out of every five or six calls is someone who is suicidal,” Ms Renato said.

“There’s a whole range of suicidal ideation of course, that’s why we put so many resources into ensuring our supporters are trained.

Once someone is accredited and decides to be a volunteer, they undergo three months of formal training before starting their placement phase.

As a result of this increase in calls, the local Lifeline service is now recruiting caring, committed volunteers to become accredited telephone crisis operators.

Ms Renato said volunteers did not need to be a counsellor: “You just need to be able to listen, and care”.

“Our volunteers are essential to the success of the helpline,” she said.

“We require them to dedicate so much time to become accredited, and they’re highly supported and coached throughout that placement period.

“Sometimes the situations volunteers are sitting in on are things they would never have dreamt of.”

Ian Johansen, Swan Hill manager of headspace, the youtyh mental health helpline, said disruption caused by lockdowns was “very unsettling” for people.

“That uncertainty it creates for families and parents caring for young people – it’s increased stress,” he said.

He said snap lockdowns in particular could negatively affect people’s wellbeing.

“People are unable to anticipate changes because people are most able to navigate transition when they have anticipation of them,” Mr Johansen said.

“Remote learning and the work from home directives are a big adjustment for families to make.

“I understand the greater challenges of the Covid pandemic. However these things, while we understand them, they do impact on families and parents as they seek to support their children.”

The inability to be physically active in a social setting was also negatively affecting the mental health of young people.

“Exercise is an important part of mental wellbeing.

“When you can’t interact with people for exercise in group settings – for the small period, it’s hard to estimate the impacts on those limitations.”

Lifeline Central Victoria & Mallee covers the Loddon-Mallee area, including Swan Hill, Gannawarra, Buloke, and Mildura.

Lifeline is a non-profit organisation that provides free, 24-hour telephone crisis support. Volunteer crisis supporters provide suicide prevention services, mental health support and emotional assistance.

If you need help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

headspace is a confidential service providing counselling and support to young people aged 12 to 25. Call feadspace on 1800 975 115.