VOLUNTEERS at a locally run mental health crisis phone service have expressed concern after State Government-supplied relief funding was discontinued earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Lifeline Loddon Mallee provides emergency phone support to regional Victorians experiencing mental health issues with the hotline staffed by volunteers.<\/p>\n
Lisa Renato, operations manager at Lifeline Loddon Mallee said the service provides critical support and last year answered 18,000 calls from the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were 84 deaths by suicide in the region, almost two per fortnight,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Northern Victoria upper house MP for the Nationals, Gaelle Broad, said she\u2019s received correspondence from the regional crisis line stating that current funding wasn\u2019t meeting their needs.<\/p>\n
Ms Broad said although temporary funding boost had helped during the pandemic, current demand for the service hadn\u2019t declined.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost-of-living pressures are so significant now and I think that\u2019s definitely having an impact on mental health,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Ms Broad the funding that has now been withdrawn would have been used to train and support volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s definitely a need for it so we\u2019re really keen to see the government provide that support because this is such an essential service,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
Lifeline as a national organisation is funded in part by the Federal Government.<\/p>\n
Member for West Bendigo and former Lifeline board member, Maree Edwards, said the organization\u2019s regional centres rely on additional State Government funding, donations, and fundraising to keep providing services.<\/p>\n
\u201cLifeline Australia get the bulk of the money, but they don\u2019t filter that down into Lifeline in Victoria and the regional services where the hard work is actually done,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Additional State Government funding was provided during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for the service increased, but according to Ms Edwards that was always a temporary boost to regular funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that there\u2019s been enormous pressure on people\u2019s mental health and the services that have been provided by Victorian Lifeline centers has really benefited thousands of people during those times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Edwards said an additional $250,000 had been given to Lifeline Australia to support regional Victorians impacted by last year\u2019s floods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
VOLUNTEERS at a locally run mental health crisis phone service have expressed concern after State Government-supplied relief funding was discontinued earlier this year. Lifeline Loddon Mallee provides emergency phone support to regional Victorians experiencing mental health issues with the hotline staffed by volunteers. Lisa Renato, operations manager at Lifeline Loddon Mallee said the service provides […]<\/p>\n