What’s next for Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland
If anyone can appreciate the value of Volunteer Crisis Supporters, it’s Lifeline Sydney Centre manager, Jay Hannant. Jay joined Wesley Mission last year, driven by a motivation to make a positive difference. He also had lived experience of mental health issues and had called Lifeline himself in the past.
Jay knows only too well how distressed callers can be. “There are calls from people who are in desperate suicide scenarios but it’s also important to remember that suicide prevention isn’t only about people on the brink of suicide,” he says. “A call with a Lifeline volunteer can be what gets someone out of bed that day which all impacts on mental health and is critical in preventing the spiral down”.
Jay has seen the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on the number of calls to the centre. “What we know is that when the Reserve Bank announces an interest rate increase, we do get more calls, and unfortunately with the economic conditions forecast this year, it’s logical that we’ll see more calls coming in”.
A recruitment drive for Volunteer Crisis Supporters will help ensure Jay’s centre can answer the increase in calls for help, but there’s an urgency to recruit now so the volunteers are trained in time to cope with the influx.
“Volunteer Crisis Supporters can expect to learn a lot during their training. They’ll learn more about themselves from listening to others. There is often a sense of gratitude in listening to others’ stories and reflecting on your own life,” says Jay. “Most of all, volunteers can expect to be supported deeply the whole way”.