We urgently need your support to train more Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland volunteers.
“I just can’t do this anymore,”
17-year-old Ava sobbed. “My mum died a year ago and my dad’s turned to drinking. I’ve tried so hard to cope with this grief. But I’m just in too much pain and I’m so alone.” But then a gentle voice spoke to her on the other end of the phone:
“You’re not alone. I’m here with you.”
It was Lynne, one of our volunteer crisis supporters here at Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland. Lynne knew that Ava’s grief had already driven her to self-harm. But once she was certain someone was on their way to help her, she understood that what Ava needed most of all was a sense of connection.
“I stayed on that call with Ava for an hour. By the time her friend arrived to take her to the hospital, she felt so held. She felt like finally she wasn’t alone.”
Ava’s story is one of hope. But thousands more women face this same impossible choice every year.
Lifeline crisis supporters like Lynne receive heartbreaking calls like this every single day. Your gift today can help ensure they’re always ready for them.
Our crisis supporters must be ready for anything
Every day, people call Lifeline for help. Many will be children in distress like young Ava. Others could be battling addiction, or facing financial troubles, or living with mental health issues.
That’s why volunteer crisis supporters like Lynne must complete extensive training to ensure they’re ready for every call that comes through:
“I learned so much from my Lifeline training,” Lynne shares. “It taught me to listen openly, to connect meaningfully, and to be with people like Ava in their pain in the most profound way.”
But our phone lines are busier than ever, and we urgently need more crisis supporters to meet the growing need.
Please give generously today to help us train more crisis supporters like Lynne to respond to every call for help.
Every 29 seconds,
someone calls Lifeline for help.
In just 24 hours 4,300 people
sought crisis support after the horrific Bondi Beach attack.
9 Australians
die every day by suicide – double the Australian road toll.
Help train our volunteers
Here’s how your support can help prepare our volunteer crisis supporters to be ready for anything.
$45
can provide 1:1 coaching for a volunteer crisis supporter, to effectively respond to every crisis call.
$149
can deliver suicide prevention training to communities across Australia, empowering them to recognise when someone is at risk of suicide.
$390
can fund professional development, enabling crisis supporters to advance their knowledge and improve their support for help seekers.
$600
can help keep our crisis support centres open 24/7, so that no call for help ever goes unanswered.
$1400
can train a Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland crisis supporter like Lynne, so they can provide expert and compassionate support to anyone who needs it.