Lifeline WA handled a staggering 134,865 crisis support conversations over the last financial year – a 37 per cent increase from the previous year. 

While Lifeline WA’s dedicated team of volunteers supported people across the country, calls for help from West Australian help seekers increased by 12% compared to the previous financial year. 

Lifeline WA CEO, Lorna MacGregor, said with someone now reaching out to 13 11 14 every 28 seconds, the organisation’s focus for the current financial year is to significantly boost its team of volunteer Crisis Supporters. 

“We are experiencing year-on-year increases in the number of people reaching out for help, so it is imperative that we grow our crisis support capacity,” said Ms MacGregor. 

“We predict we will respond to 150,000 calls for help over the next 12 months, so it is critical we’re able to fund the specialist training of over 200 new volunteers to meet this demand.” 

BHP has already responded to Lifeline WA’s urgent call for funding assistance with a $200,000 donation in May to help recruit, train and deploy 50 Crisis Supporters.  

The first 12 trainee Crisis Supporters funded by BHP are due to complete their training in the coming weeks and will immediately join Lifeline WA’s frontline efforts.  

BHP’s Head of Human Resources Western Australia Iron Ore, Regina Stene, who visited Lifeline WA’s training centre in Shenton Park last week, said it was a special moment to see the cohort of volunteers gearing up to graduate from their comprehensive training program. 

“The work Lifeline does is so important and aligns with our commitment to keep our people and communities safe and well – both physically and psychologically.” 

“We are very proud to work with Lifeline WA and help grow its life saving service to the WA community.” 

Lorna MacGregor emphasised that Lifeline WA could not meet the growing demand for crisis support without philanthropic support from people and organisations in the community. 

“It costs $4,000 to train just one new Crisis Supporter, and the only way that can happen is with the generous support of organisations like BHP.” 

“Training crisis supporters is expensive, but you can’t put a price on human life,” Ms MacGregor said.  

Lifeline’s 24/7 telephone crisis support service is available on 13 11 14 text 0477 13 11 14 online chat lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat 

ENDS

Media contact:

Caitlyn Maher, The PR Collaborative, caitlyn@theprcollaborative.com.au 0426 221 310.

NB: Lifeline’s 24-hour telephone crisis line 13 11 14 is pronounced ‘thirteen eleven fourteen’. For 24/7 crisis support or suicide prevention services, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 text, 0477 13 11 14, chat online lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat or visit wa.lifeline.org.au