THE announcement of a fifth lockdown a fortnight ago to contain the spread of COVID-19 brought back into place the rules and restrictions Victorians have become all too familiar with.<\/p>\n
But for some in the community, it also brought feelings of anxiety, loneliness and dread.<\/p>\n
This year, Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee has answered 2000 more calls than last from care seekers, or anonymous callers, looking for support in uncertain times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s been a massive, significant impact we\u2019ve seen with the demand of people needing support and, more importantly, reaching out for support,\u201d said executive officer of Lifeline CVM Lisa Renato.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen people reaching out more when they\u2019re feeling overwhelmed or anxious or just a bit lonely and isolated than we have before.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor this fifth lockdown we saw significant increases in calls coming in and mainly people who just need to talk it out, people who feel themselves getting sucked into that inertia of the really severe lockdowns that all of Victoria experienced last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community has leaned on us more realising that we\u2019re here just to listen. We provide a non-judgemental, framework-based approach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lifeline CVM volunteers use the CARE framework with every call they answer to build a connection with care seekers, attend to their needs, reaffirm the matters discussed, and empower them to take the appropriate next steps at the end of the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really encourage people to reach out to us if they\u2019re having a crisis, no matter what that looks like,\u201d Ms Renato said.<\/p>\n
These skills acquired by Lifeline CVM volunteers through their training can also be used in the wider community to provide support in more informal settings, according to Ms Renato.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do a lot of work in the community by providing training that creates a ripple effect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of our volunteers receive training and not only are they helping the people who call in, they\u2019re able to use those skills in the broader community with family, friends, neighbours, co-workers, mums in the school yard.\u201d<\/p>\n