What people in a crisis often need is someone to talk to.
Sometimes it's not possible to share dark thoughts and feelings with friends and family. This is one reason why we should all be grateful for a service like Lifeline.
The confidential telephone crisis support service is available 24-7 from a landline, payphone or mobile. Its trained volunteers offer short-term support for people who are overwhelmed and having difficulty coping or staying safe.
In the Hunter, the service takes about 10,000 calls a year. That's almost 30 a day. As the Newcastle Herald reports, the local service needs to raise about $500,000 by the end of the financial year to sustain it.
There's been a lot of talk lately about whether the Rural Fire Service should be a professional service. Likewise, some might argue that Lifeline's trained volunteers should be paid.
Furthermore, it could be argued that the service and its volunteers should not have to scrounge around every year doing fundraising to cover its costs.
In fact, Lifeline's regional general manager Julie Wicks says people often assume Lifeline is fully funded.
Ms Wicks says Lifeline's governing body does receive some government funding, but not much makes its way to individual centres like the one based in Newcastle.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last July he wanted suicide prevention to be a national priority.
"Providing greater support for all Australians needing mental health and suicide prevention services is a key priority of my government," Mr Morrison said.
"Suicide takes far too many Australians, devastating families and local communities. One life lost to suicide is one too many, which is why my government is working towards a zero suicide goal."
One way to help meet this goal could be to ensure that Lifeline is fully funded with taxpayer dollars.
The federal government insists it spends almost $5 billion in mental health services each year. And the government has acknowledged that suicide is the leading cause of death for young Australians.
The Hunter Region, along with many other areas of the world, has been exposed to much greater awareness about mental health in recent years. As such, more people are seeking help.
Lifeline, like other organisations that work in this area, will no doubt be feeling the weight of this change.
Technological change, too, means services such as Lifeline need more resources to reach people using modern techniques.
Lifeline is part of Australia's fabric. When its Hunter office asks for help, the community will undoubtedly rise to the challenge. Community fundraising is an important part of society. But Lifeline deserves more. It should receive a lot more public funding.
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For crisis help: Lifeline, 13 11 14
ISSUE: 39,520.
