Lifelink searching for volunteers as Mental Health Awareness Week approaches

Meg Sillay is a Lifelink/Samaritan trainer and counsellor. Photo / Warren Buckland

A strong desire to give back to the community is what prompted Hawke's Bay woman Meg Sillay to become a Lifelink/Samaritan counsellor.

For more than 30 years, she has been on the end of the phone, providing a listening ear to those in need.

And at a time when mental health issues and suicide are rife around New Zealand, she is urging others to volunteer.

The charity provides confidential help to those in need and takes calls covering issues from relationship problems and loneliness, to addiction and mental health.

In the past year, the service covering Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay has received almost 3500 calls, up from 2817 in 2015/2016. Of those, nearly 1500 were related to health and mental health problems.

"Our goal is to try and reduce suicide across New Zealand but the way we do it is by working quite some distance back from the bridge," Sillay said.

"We encourage people to ring us and talk through things that are bothering them. The idea is that if they are able to get the stuff out of their heads, they are much less likely to get to a place where they think about suicide."

She said the calls had changed over the years. Previously calls were predominately focused on domestic abuse, violence and alcoholism, but the formation of the Women's Refuge means about 75 per cent of calls are now in relation to mental health issues, Sillay believes.

"The changes are often a reflection of what is going on in wider New Zealand society."

The length of time calls go for varies depending on the caller.

"If somebody is grappling with mental health issues, a call may go very slowly as somebody struggles to get their thoughts in order but, equally, you may have somebody who rings up and talks and the call goes for 10 minutes."

Lifelink/Samaritans Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay chairman Greg Halse said they were always on the lookout for new volunteers – ones who were good listeners and open-minded.

"We provide all the training and ongoing support required and most of our training and the work itself is now done from the comfort of your own home, using online training and diverted phone lines for when on duty. Without our amazing volunteers this life-saving service would never exist."

Mental Health Awareness Week is next week and has been run annually by the Mental Health Foundation since 1993. This year the theme is: Let nature in, strengthen your wellbeing.

Reasons for call
- Health and Mental Health – 1435
- Undisclosed – 1088
- Sexual and Gender Issues – 246
- Miscellaneous – 229
- Loneliness – 113
- Relationship problems – 90
- Financial – 54
- Addiction – 28
- Suicide – 28
- Administration – 14
- Employment issues – 13
- Accommodation issues – 6
- Counselling – 6
- Legal – 3
Source: Lifelink

If you would like to register your interest in becoming a volunteer, email: Meg Sillay at rotorua.lifelink@xtra.co.nz

Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Lifelink/Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• The Word
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER Suicide Prevention
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.