Participate
Everybody has a role to play in preventing suicide, and the Lifeline has lots of ways you can take part. With your help, we can spread awareness about suicide prevention and mental health, and save lives.
You can make an amazing difference with us, helping to support anyone who needs someone to talk to.
I LIKE TO VOLUNTEER. WHAT CAN I DO?
What’s involved?
There are different ways you can support as a volunteer. We are known for the support we offer our callers on the phone but we also offer support by email, SMS, face to face and through written correspondence. Helping us in this way is known as a listening volunteer.
Benefits of volunteering
Volunteering is sociable and a great way to meet new people. You will meet like-minded people and can share your ideas and thoughts with others. You’ll be able to give something back to the community and help change people’s lives. Volunteering will help you gain skills that you can use in all aspects of your life and it’s also a good way to use your existing skills to help others. Volunteering also gives you experience that you can build on for your CV.
Volunteer at night
Our listening volunteers are there for people who need to talk any time of the day or night. We need more volunteers at night to listen to our callers, so that we can make sure we can be there for more people who need us. Night time can be a particularly difficult time for some people and our volunteers often say that the calls they take during the night are the ones that they feel have made the biggest difference.
Support us in other ways
Volunteers also help to support us in many other ways and they are all vital in ensuring that we can provide our services effectively and ensure that people know about us. You can help in areas: Marketing, through PR or social media, IT support.
Whatever your interests, experience or skills, we have a role for you, and we will train, mentor and support you in whatever role you choose to do.
Have the Conversation
Use the 1-To-5 action steps to help someone in your life that might be in crisis. These steps have been proven to help others find hope and support.
Ask
Research shows people who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way. Findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce suicidal ideation.
Keep Them Safe
A number of studies have indicated that when lethal means are made less available or less deadly, suicide rates by that method decline, and frequently suicide rates overall decline.
Be There
Individuals are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful by after speaking to someone who listens without judgment.
Help Them Connect
Studies indicate that helping someone at risk create a network of resources and individuals for support and safety can help them take positive action and reduce feelings of hopelessness.
Follow Up
Studies have also shown that brief, low cost intervention and supportive, ongoing contact may be an important part of suicide prevention, especially for individuals after they have been discharged from hospitals or care services.
Learn More
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Donate
Your online gift to the Lifeline will support our suicide prevention services.
Get in touch
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Download Logos and Ribbons
Share the Lifeline logo and prevention ribbons to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
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