Busy Three Months For “Life-line”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 17

Busy Three Months For “Life-line”

The first three months of the 9 a.m. to midnight “Lifeline” service of the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission ended on Thursday night with a total of 240 calls for help, received by telephone—Bo of them met immediately with advice by the counsellors on duty and 160 followed up with further aid by the service’s “caring division.” From April 17 to September 30, the mission’s “telephone ministry” by which callers to number 42-299 hear a short Christian message and a prayer, has received 54,453 calls, totalled by an electronic counter. “This acceptance of both services satisfies us completely that they are meeting a real need,” said the Rev. W. E. Falkingham. “Above all we are convinced that those in trouble want to know that soniebody cares,” Mr Falkingham said. “Life-line” has “trouble teams” always on call in an emergency. So far they have been used only five times. These cases have included imminent breakdown through broken homes, a threat of

suicide, and cases of acute alcoholism and depression. In each case recovery was made. Mr Falkingham said the “Life-line” service was used chiefly by people wanting and needing advice. Some simply needed someone sympathetic to talk to. Others wanted advice on family problems, accommodation, benefits, and provision for children. “Life-line” had a panel of accountants to advise on finance and a panel of lawyers for legal aid, said Mr Falkingham. Questions, not clients, were referred to them. Although trained counsellors staffed the service, they did not pretend to be experts in all fields. Their role was the act as a sounding board and then refer callers to specialists in the matters requiring help. Mr Falkingham said the "Life-line” number was still 32-370.