A new 24-hour crisis line for Aboriginal Men has been set up to provide extra support during the coronavirus pandemic.
Brother to Brother is the only hotline in Australia specifically created to assist Aboriginal men seeking help during the coronavirus crisis.
The service was created by Dardi Munwurro, an organisation that delivers a range of family violence programs specifically targeting Aboriginal men.
It aims to break the cycle of inter-generational trauma in Indigenous communities.
CEO Alan Thorpe said the pandemic has highlighted a gap in services.
"What we've come to realise is that a lot of services are conditioned to work from 9–5 but we can do a lot of prevention work outside those hours," he said.
Six men from the Aboriginal community, including elders, are working for the hotline and answering calls on a daily basis.
Since the line was launched in March, it has received an average of 100 calls each month.
Mr Thorpe believed the volume of calls highlights the demand for a service specifically assisting Aboriginal men.
He said there is an automatic connection and callers feel safe knowing they can speak with an elder or fellow member of the Indigenous community.
"They really understand the issues from Aboriginal men which is amazing," he said.
"I think [those using the service] do prefer an Aboriginal service because it provides that cultural understanding."
Added pressure
The pandemic has led to added pressures and complications for both Aboriginal people and the broader community.
Coronavirus restrictions have caused job insecurity and left many people feeling isolated.
"The social and emotional wellbeing of people, particularly in the second wave of the pandemic, puts a lot more pressure on people," Mr Thorpe said.
According to Mr Thorpe, relationship and mental health issues are the most common reasons men call the hotline.
"We've found that a lot of the men who are ringing are not necessarily engaged in services … so they're dealing with things on their own, which is concerning," he said.
Employment is another major concern, with numerous callers struggling to deal with job losses due to coronavirus.
This has a ripple effect — leading to stress about paying bills, putting food on the table and providing security for their family.
Mr Thorpe believed the hotline was a life changer for Aboriginal men, who can call at any time.
"You don't always fix things in one call," he said.
"It's better to ring and debrief and talk over the phone than to act it out and sit in the situation."
