Look Out for Yourself and Others This Christmas
The festive season is the busiest time of the year for Lifeline Australia, with the most calls being made between Christmas and New Years Days.
This is because it is a hard time of isolation, loneliness and overwhelming feelings according to Lifeline head of corporate and community partnerships NSW Patrick Calabria.
Only a few years ago there were 3,726 calls made on New Years Day, which is the largest day in history for the free service.
“The big part to remember is there’s somebody there to take that call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Patrick shared.
“While most people are busy with Christmas lunch, there’s people sitting there waiting to take someone’s call.”
If making a free call to 13 11 40 is not practical or something you are comfortable doing, there is also a text service on 0477 13 11 14 that can be an inconspicuous way to talk about what is going on without anyone around you know.
Patrick encourages everyone to have these numbers saved in their phone, if not for themselves, for helping someone else.
“We are constantly asking people are they okay? We expect them to say ‘good, great, not too bad,’ those sorts of answers, but what happens when they say they’re not?,” he said.
“Saving the 13 11 40 number in our phone is an extremely powerful tool. We can be there for people and say can we make a phone call together and really take that onus off ourselves but be there as a comfort for someone and provide them with a safe pathway going forward.
“The best thing we can do at Christmas is give presence, not presents, so be there for people, check in on people, our neighbours or loved ones or co-workers.”