Record calls for help as Covid, bushfire traumas linger for many
THE emotional toll of Covid is expected to linger for many years, while people are increasingly coming forward to speak about the Black Summer bushfires that ripped through parts of the country two years ago.
Crisis support service Lifeline experienced its busiest ever day in 2021 and demand is only tipped to climb this year as callers reach out for help dealing with the trauma. “During Covid, yes people lost their jobs and their incomes, but there were other impacts like somebody not getting to their mother’s death bed, and that’s the sort of thing that will stay with you long after the financial burden eases,” Lifeline Australia patron and former chairman John Brogden said.
“That’s life changing, that’s traumatic, and so we can confidently predict that sadly this Covid stress will go on for years as people grapple with that.”
The 24/7 helpline received 3345 calls on August 3 – the highest number in its 58-year history.
Mr Brogden said Lifeline was still fielding between 3000 and 3300 calls every day.
“To put that in context, it’s about 1000 calls more than we were seeing a year or so ago,” he said.
“We’re getting more calls now than we got during the bushfires and it just demonstrates that people experience trauma in different ways and at different times.”
Volunteer crisis counsellor Miles Stanton said many of the calls he answered were not about any specific issue. “It’s just sad people who are feeling broken,” Mr Stanton said.
Mr Stanton joined Lifeline about a year ago and has progressed to stage three of the training for counsellors.
“Nothing can prepare you for the first suicide call or the pain and anguish that some members of our community are dealing with every day,” he said.
“But I’ve found that with almost every call I’ve been able to make people feel better and that is one of the most satisfying things I have ever experienced in my life.”