Just over 6700 people from around the Waikato region made a phone call to LifeLine Waikato last year, seeking help with a problem.

The number is a 30 per cent increase on the previous year, and one of the most important increases was that 45 per cent of the callers were male, says Shelley Walker, director of LifeLine Waikato.

“We had almost 3000 male callers, which is a huge increase, considering that just two
years ago less than 29 per cent of our callers were male,” she says. “About a third of them wanted to discuss problems with relationships, and a lot of others called in to talk about financial problems. There were considerably more male callers talking about money problems than there were females. “This is a really good indication that men are realising that it is OK to discuss their
problems, and that LifeLine can provide help.”

Shelley Walker says the organisation also took a noticeable increase in Maori callers, with more than 600 phoning in to talk mainly about family problems or difficulties with relationships.

“We also had an increase in the number of calls from both men and women in the 20 to 30-year age group, most of them wanting to discuss relationships, or how to cope with day-to-day stress and life difficulties,” she says. “Perhaps our best result was a 3 per cent decrease in the number of potential suicide callers. Last year we took more than 100 fewer calls.”

Shelley Walker says she believes one of the main reasons LifeLine Waikato was so successful last year is because the organisation was able to raise its public profile through more advertising and media recognition. “It’s good that we can let the world know what we are, how we work, that we are out there 24-7 every day and night of the year, and that it is perfectly OK for people to call us
any time to talk through a problem,” she says.

“We are able to help, and often people just need to talk to someone who will not be judgmental, but who can suggest ways of solving problems.”

She says LifeLine Waikato will take part in the national LifeLine appeal day on Friday, February 19.

“We are also seeking a number of new volunteer counsellors, and we will be holding a volunteer selection day on February 21. We need at least 30 new counsellors and would really like to have 40.”

She says volunteers do not need counselling training or tertiary qualifications, but need to be people who are “non-judgmental and accepting of other people’s struggles”. “Those selected are given 54 hours of counselling training, including micro-counselling, communications skills, and in-depth training on the range of issues callers phone in about.”

She says those wanting to make a donation or ask about counselling work should call Hamilton LifeLine Waikato at 838-0715.

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