Life-line To Hold Street Appeal (Press, 8 March 1973)

LifeLine, an inter-church telephone aid service in Christchurch, provides vital support to individuals facing a variety of personal issues. Established in 1964, the organisation is staffed by over 100 trained, voluntary counsellors who operate around the clock in shifts. Each year, they assist more than 4,000 individuals dealing with problems such as depression, marital strife, and other distressing circumstances. Despite the extensive services offered, LifeLine faces financial challenges, having run up a deficit of $7,000 in the previous year, which is expected to increase in 1973. To address this financial strain, the organisation has planned a street appeal to help raise funds. Since its inception, LifeLine has incurred more than $43,000 in operational costs, with the Methodist Central Mission contributing $23,000 and other sources providing $19,000. Statistics from March to December 1972 indicate that a significant portion of calls received were from individuals in distress. Over 900 calls were made by people suffering from depression or requiring psychiatric help. The second largest group of callers, numbering 820, identified as lonely, followed by nearly 800 people facing marriage and family issues. Additionally, 364 calls were from individuals seeking various forms of social welfare assistance, while 116 callers reported facing sexual problems, predominantly involving homosexuality and venereal diseases. Addiction issues were also highlighted, with 94 calls related to alcohol and 44 to drug use. Financial strain prompted 35 inquiries, chiefly from those struggling to manage their budgets. Furthermore, 86 calls were linked to suicide threats or attempts, with 53 being threats alone, 21 representing attempts, and 12 categorised as potential cases requiring immediate intervention. LifeLine also maintains a trouble team, consisting of 25 men dedicated to intervening in critical situations requiring urgent help. The Rev. W. E. Falkingham, superintendent of the Methodist Central Mission, emphasised that the future viability of LifeLine hinges on appointing a qualified director, improving training programmes, consistently recruiting voluntary workers for training, and ensuring adequate funding. These factors are crucial for the organisation to continue providing crucial support to those in need in the Christchurch community.

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