LIFELINE WELCOMES ADDITIONAL STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE NSW COMMUNITY

Yesterday, the Perrottet Government announced a $28.5 million investment to help ensure Lifeline can respond to the sustained increased needs of the community for the next four years.
Lifeline Chief Executive Officer Colin Seery thanked the NSW Government for the critical injection of funding on top of the existing core annual funding, to sustain the organisation’s voice and digital services.
“Lifeline welcomes the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to reducing the stigma of mental health and suicidality and encouraging people to reach out for help when they need it,” said Mr Seery.
“This State Budget prioritises mental health and acknowledges the role Lifeline plays not only as a first point of call for many people in crisis, but also in referring help-seekers on to other support.”
Mr Seery said that the State Government’s additional investment in Lifeline during the challenges of 2020/21 had enabled the delivery of crisis support and suicide prevention services at increased scale sufficient to meet the needs of help-seekers across the State.
“This investment will mean that we can continue to manage the current and forecast long-term increased demand for crisis support and ensure every New South Wales resident has adequate access to in-the-moment crisis support services, when and how they need them.”
“Investing in Lifeline Centres across New South Wales means they will also be agile and responsive enough to increase services as needed to meet peaks in demand brought on by future crises and disasters.”

Lifeline is Australia’s leading suicide prevention service, operating the 13 11 14 telephone line within 41 centres around the nation. The service expects to respond to over one million requests for support this year, creating an average of 120 safety plans each day to keep people experiencing suicidal ideation safe and supported.