LIFELINE CELEBRATES 49TH BIRTHDAY
Release Date: 14 March 2012
In the lead up to a milestone half century of providing crisis support to the Australian community, Lifeline is looking forward to an exciting year of new service delivery.
As Lifeline nationally reaches 49 years of service delivery on the 16th of March, the organisation has much to celebrate, including a new online crisis support chat service, to be launched in May, as well as other initiatives that have improved access for people needing 24/7 crisis support.
“Lifeline was founded 49 years ago by the Reverend Dr Sir Alan Walker after receiving a call from a distressed man who later took his own life,” Lifeline’s Director of Communications Chris Wagner said.
“Determined not to let isolation and a lack of support be the cause of more deaths, Sir Alan launched Lifeline, a 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service. Since then, Lifeline has become a leading provider of suicide prevention and crisis support services in Australia.”
“As the leading cause of death in Australia for men under 44 and women under 34, Lifeline will this year reaffirm our strategic focus on suicide prevention; Lifeline’s vision is for an Australia Free of Suicide.”
In working towards this vision, Lifeline will be launching its new Online Crisis Support Chat Service, building on its service delivery through a paid overnight crisis support workforce and improving access to information through our online web presence.
Fast Facts on Lifeline’s 13 11 14 service
• Over the last three calendar years, telephone crisis supporters answered just over 1.3 million calls.
• Lifeline answered a record number of calls in January 2012, with 40,752 calls answered across the network, the highest number of calls ever answered in a single month.
• Lifeline answers a new call to their telephone crisis line every 50 seconds.
If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit their website www.lifeline.org.au
For further information or comment contact: Media on 0434 378 939