Lifeline WA has welcomed a new two-year partnership with Rio Tinto, valued at $860,000 to help support the suicide prevention organisation following record-breaking demand for its service in 2023.

Throughout 2023 the leading suicide prevention agency handled an unprecedented 116,444 conversations – a staggering increase of 39% on 2022.

It is the first time in its history that Lifeline WA has exceeded helping 100,000 people in any one year.

Lifeline WA CEO, Lorna MacGregor, predicts that 150,000 people will reach out to Lifeline WA for help by 2025, and recruiting and training more crisis supporters in the coming months is critical to prepare for this growth.

“Our partnership with Rio Tinto will allow us to train and deploy 120 new crisis supporters over the life of the partnership which will provide an extraordinary boost to our crisis support capacity here in WA,” said Ms MacGregor.

“We are enormously grateful that Rio Tinto shares our vision to achieve a community free of suicide and has been willing to boost our crisis support capacity as we continue to experience steadily increasing demand.”

Ms MacGregor said part of Rio Tinto’s funding will train new telephone crisis supporters.

It will also assist the organisations to deliver programs in regional communities to raise awareness of positive mental wellbeing and reduce the stigma attached to reaching out for help.

“People living and working in regional communities often face unique barriers to accessing mental health information and support and we need to change this.

“We are looking forward to working with the Rio Tinto to identify communities that can benefit from education and opportunities to connect and engage with Lifeline WA and its ambassadors.”

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive, Simon Trott, said "Our new partnership with Lifeline WA is about helping people access crucial support when they need it most and ensuring more vital mental health programs reach regional communities.

 

“Mental health is a core part of our safety culture at Rio Tinto. We are working hard to break down the stigma of seeking help and to raise awareness of positive mental wellbeing in our business.

“Through this new partnership with Lifeline WA we hope to promote this important work more broadly and make a real difference to the lives of thousands of Western Australians.”

The first cohort of new crisis supporters to benefit from the Rio Tinto funding commence their training this week and will spend 12 months completing the training to become an accredited Lifeline Telephone Crisis Supporter.

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

Media contact:
Stefanie Ipsaro-Passione, The PR Collaborative, stefanie@theprcollaborative.com.au 0424 894 029