lifelineqld.org.au
Last year, 769 people in Queensland died by suspected suicide, and three in every four of them were men*.
Each one of those statistics is someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s mate. A man who is loved, despite what he might think in a moment of loneliness or crushing pressure.
Over the holiday season, feeling there is an expectation to provide, the stress of financial strain, relationship breakdowns, and the feeling of disconnection from family and friends can turn what’s meant to be a time of celebration into a period of anxiety and frustration.
Knowing that someone is there to listen 24/7, and that they can stay anonymous, can make a massive difference.
Your gift today will help train more Crisis Support Volunteers who can be there when men in crisis reach out for support, and help them survive a crisis.
*Queensland Mental Health Commission Suicide in Queensland Annual Report 2024
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Geoff knows what it’s like to lose men in his life to suicide. His father died by suicide when Geoff was just 14 years old.
As a Crisis Support Volunteer, I’ve spoken to men like my dad and my friends – middle-aged men who are having a really tough time.
I could picture the important people in my life who’ve died by suicide and thought, if only there was somebody they could have called to talk to.
There are a lot of lonely people out there, a lot of people who are on their own. They either don't have family or they're estranged from their family, and they don't have much of a friend network.
I was too young to help my dad when he was in crisis.
But with help from people like you, I can be there for callers like him.
It costs $7,500 and can take up to 10 months to train and support even one volunteer like Geoff.
Here’s what your gift today could help cover:
The initial three-month period of face-to-face and online training for new volunteers
The cost of their training and supervision during a two-month placement in a Crisis Support Centre
Their supervision during an 80-hour internship that’s a prerequisite for ‘graduation’
Ongoing training, supervision, and support that Lifeline provides for Crisis Support Volunteers on every shift
Q& A with Orion (Lifeline Queensland Call Coach)
Orion completed his Lifeline phone training in 2017. He has supported thousands of Help-Seekers and facilitated over 200 Crisis Supporters to grow their skills.
He explains some of the reasons men are struggling, and how you and Lifeline Queensland can help.
Why do you think men can struggle with their mental wellbeing?
One of the main factors is the way we, as men, can internalise our emotions and try to deal with things on our own.
We can feel a societal expectation to be strong, to provide, and to be able to push through without help. Those difficult feelings may only get heavier the harder we push them down.
With mounting living pressures, issues can compound, building up and weighing us down until we can’t get up.
Feeling able to talk about things without having to pretend we’re okay can be an important first step to relieving some of this burden.
What should someone do if they notice someone in their life is struggling with their mental health?
If someone you care about appears to be struggling, offer them the space to talk and feel genuinely heard. They’re not necessarily looking for you to come up with solutions; they want to feel safe, heard, and understood.
Someone may have their own solutions, and what we can do is really hear them and encourage them to pursue those.
As men, sharing our feelings may come a little less naturally than it might for others, but you can always offer space to do something with us; going for a bushwalk, a bike ride, or even just a chat over coffee.
Are calls to Lifeline from men different?
Everyone who reaches out for help is different. At Lifeline, we offer support through our CARE framework (Connecting, Attending to the Help-Seeker’s needs, Reaffirming, and Empowering) to meet the unique needs of each person seeking help, regardless of their gender, age, race, or background.
Men can come across as a little more practical, and we try to work with that, offering the same level of support to each and every person seeking help.
How can you help Lifeline be there for someone in crisis?
Lifeline supports Help-Seekers in all stages of crisis, but by the time many men reach out, they’ve reached their breaking point. That makes it all the more critical that a trained Crisis Supporter is there to answer their call.
There are more calls to Lifeline over the holiday period. It can feel isolating for those without families, and it’s critical that Lifeline Queensland has enough trained Volunteers ready to answer calls, texts, and online chats.
With your donation, Lifeline Queensland can continue to train new Crisis Supporters and support existing teams, so that Lifeline can offer 24/7 support throughout the year.
Other ways to donate
If you’d prefer to donate over the phone, by BPAY or post, give our friendly Fundraising Support team a call on 1800 961 881 (9am to 4pm, Mon – Fri).
