Lifeline (crisis support service) facts for kids
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| Founded | 16 March 1963 |
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| Founder | Reverend Dr Sir Alan Walker |
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Area served
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Australia |
| Product | Telephone and Online Crisis Support |
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Key people
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CEO: Colin Seery Chairman: Jacinta Munro |
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Volunteers
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Over 11,000 |
Lifeline is a special non-profit group in Australia. It offers free, 24-hour help to people who are going through tough times. You can call them on the phone or chat with them online.
Lifeline's helpers are called crisis supporters. They are mostly volunteers. They give emotional support and help with mental health issues. They also help people who are feeling very sad or worried. You can reach them by calling 13 11 14 anywhere in Australia.
These services are run from places called Lifeline Centres. These centres have trained volunteers and some paid staff. There are 41 Lifeline Centres across Australia. They are in 60 different places in every state and territory.
About 11,000 volunteers work for Lifeline. They help people who call or chat online. Around 1,000 staff members help with office work and raising money. Some Lifeline Centres also offer other types of help. This can include face-to-face talks or group support. They might also help with food or bills.
Lifeline also has over 250 op shops around Australia. These shops sell clothes, furniture, and other items. The money they earn helps to fund Lifeline's support services.
Contents
How Lifeline Started
Lifeline began in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1963. It was started by a man named Sir Alan Walker. He decided to create Lifeline after a sad event. A man who called him for help later took his own life. Sir Alan wanted to make sure loneliness and worry would not cause other deaths.
He started a special phone line for people in crisis. It first operated from a church mission. Lifeline Sydney took two years to plan. About 150 people took a nine-month course to become helpers. An old building was made new for the centre. Full-time staff were hired to guide the new phone helpers.
The phone company allowed Lifeline's number to be listed. It was put on the Emergency Page of the Telephone Directory. The phones were set up and ready.
First Calls and Growth
The first Lifeline Centre officially opened in March 1963. It was very popular right away. Over 100 calls for help came in on the very first day. The first call arrived just one minute after the lines opened. Since then, the phones have never stopped ringing.
In January 1964, a magazine called Time wrote about Lifeline. This article helped similar services start in other countries around the world.
The first international meeting for Lifeline was held in Sydney in August 1966. This meeting helped guide how Lifeline services would grow. It also set up quality standards. This led to the creation of Lifeline International.
In 1994, Lifeline made it easier to call. They changed the 24-hour phone line to one simple national number: 13 11 14.
In 2007, Lifeline improved its call system. Calls could now go to the next available helper anywhere in Australia. This meant people could get help faster.
Lifeline also started Australia's first text-based support service in 2018. This gave people another way to reach out for help.
On August 3, 2021, Lifeline received the highest number of calls in one day. They answered 3,345 calls that day.
How Many People Lifeline Helps
Lifeline gets about one million requests for help every year. In one year (2016–2017), they received over 933,000 calls. They also got more than 53,000 requests through their online chat service.
Lifeline During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lifeline saw a big increase in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Before the pandemic, they usually got about 2,400 calls a day. During the pandemic, they often received around 3,400 calls daily.
In March 2020, Lifeline answered almost 90,000 calls. This means they answered one call every 30 seconds. On Friday, April 10, 2020, they received 3,200 calls in just one day.
August 2021 was the busiest month ever for Lifeline. The record for most calls in a single day was broken four times that month. On Thursday, August 19, 2021, Lifeline received 3,505 calls. This was the busiest day in the organisation's history.
Keeping Information Safe
Lifeline allows people to call without giving their name. This means you can stay anonymous. However, Lifeline will contact authorities if they believe someone is in serious danger.
They will share information if they truly believe it will stop harm. This includes preventing a serious and immediate threat to someone's life or safety. It also applies to threats to public health or safety. This rule helps keep everyone safe.
See also
- Crisis hotline
- Beyond Blue
- Kids Helpline
