Lifeline welcomes $12 million in funding to support Queenslanders in crisis

• $12 million has been committed to help Lifeline continue their critical services
• The mental health support services help more than 200,000 Queensland adults every year
• Funding will go toward ongoing operations and expansion of services

Lifeline has welcomed Queensland Government’s announcement $12 million funding services over the next four years to continue providing critical support to Queenslanders experiencing mental health distress.

The McKell Institute Queensland report 'Communities in crisis: Lifeline Qld supporting those in need' released in March, recognised Lifeline Queensland’s invaluable role in the state's mental health infrastructure, and the need to be able to plan its resources based on a regular, predictable funding model.

UnitingCare Group Executive Family & Disability Services & Lifeline Donna Shkalla said the funding goes a long way to helping Lifeline Queensland support people experiencing crisis.

“The McKell Institute Queensland report found demand for the crisis support and suicide prevention service skyrocketed in recent times, driven, in part, by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ms Shkalla said.

“We thank the Queensland Government’s acknowledgement of the invaluable role Lifeline plays within the community and to help us lift capacity to meet the ongoing demand.”

Queensland's busiest day was recorded on December 11, 2022, with 963 calls to the service.

Since 2019, the Lifeline Queensland Community Recovery program has made almost 68,000 referrals to support services, with almost 45,000 instances of practical support.

 “Queenslanders rely on Lifeline being available 24-hours a day, whenever they need it. For Lifeline Queensland to continue offering that service to a growing population, it needs a regularised funding program.”

The McKell Institute’s key finding included:

1. From 2019 to 2021, national crisis calls to Lifeline increased by 37%, and by 16% in QLD.
2. Increased demand means Lifeline QLD now regularly receives more than 600 calls a day (35.6% of the time).
3. Queensland's busiest day was recorded on December 11, 2022, with 963 calls coming through.
4. Since 2019, the Community Recovery program has made almost 68,000 referrals to support services, with almost 45,000 instances of practical support.
5. Lifeline deemed critical in supporting the ‘missing middle’ – the people whose needs fall between community services and clinical care.
6. Demand highlights the funding model for community disaster events needs to move from a ‘crisis response’ model to one that is proactive.

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About Lifeline:

UnitingCare Queensland delivers Lifeline’s 24-hour Crisis Support services through phone, text and chat, providing suicide prevention services with a non-judgmental and compassionate listening ear. It also provides Lifeline's disaster recovery program, Community Recovery, and individual and group support services. All proceeds from the Lifeline Shops and Bookfest events across the state keep Queensland's 13 11 14 crisis line going. For more information, please visit our website lifelineqld.org.au