Crisis line swamped as 230 per cent more callers seek help

A crisis counselling service faced a ‘‘massive’’ increase in calls last year as heightened media coverage of mental health and suicide promoted the helpline.

The number of calls to Lifeline Aotearoa nationwide increased from 48,186 in 2016 to 159,616 in

2017 – a 230 per cent increase. The service provides free

24-hour telephone counselling and mental health assistance for issues such as bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts and family violence.

Lifeline clinical manager Renee Mathews said people called for reasons ranging from loneliness to being on the brink of suicide.

Last year, the number of calls from people seriously contemplating ending their life went up to about six per day on average compared with five the previous year.

Lifeline volunteers called police on average once a day.

‘‘Often people consider suicide because they can’t think of other ways to reduce their distress. We discuss other options with them and help them come up with a plan to keep them safe,’’ Mathews said.

Calls relating to loneliness, relationship breakdowns, financial problems and alcohol abuse were on the rise.

It was difficult to know why there had been such a ‘‘massive’’ increase in calls last year, but it could be because more people were struggling or because heightened media coverage of mental health and suicide in the lead-up to the elections put the spotlight on those issues and avenues for help, she said.

Media articles about mental health and suicide usually include a list of helplines, including Lifeline.

While raising awareness for helplines was useful, media coverage could further distress the most vulnerable. More stories of survival, hope and recovery were needed, Mathews said.

Lifeline recruited 100 volunteers and 10 staff last year to keep up with demand, she said.

Lifeline lost its government contract in 2014 to Homecare Medical’s Depression Helpline and has relied on charity and grants since.

Depression Helpline gets about 50,000 calls per year – about a third of Lifeline’s total number of calls in 2017.

Homecare Medical chief executive Andrew Slater said contacts to Depression Helpline had stayed about 1000 per week since November 2015.

The company had launched a new service called ‘‘Need to talk?’’ with a number – 1737 – people could text or call for free 24/7 for support from a mental health professional, which had already received nearly 30,000 contacts.

A recent Mental Health Foundation report found the number of mental health stories in New Zealand media increased from 8617 in 2014 to 10,000 in 2017 – a 20 per cent increase.

This prompted the foundation to work on developing new guidelines to support journalists covering mental health.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said more people were seeking help thanks to efforts to reduce stigma in the past 20 years.

Over the past 10 years, demand for all mental health services had gone up by 75 per cent, he said.

Good journalism could change public misconceptions about mental health, reduce stigma and discrimination and encourage people in distress to seek help.

‘‘Doom-and-gloom’’ media coverage could feed a sense of hopelessness among the most vulnerable audience and increase stigma, Robinson said.

In 2016, Lifeline only had enough money to continue taking calls for one more year, but it was able to stay open after a surge in public donations and a merger with charity group Presbyterian Support Northern.

Lifeline and SNAP Fitness are this month aiming to raise $250,000 for the service through an eightweek challenge.

People can donate online at 8weekchallenge.co.nz