Second Life Line Appeal Tomorrow

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32314, 4 June 1970, Page 10

Second Life Line Appeal Tomorrow

About 70 persons a week are now seeking the help of Life Line, 56 more than six years ago when the interdenominational telephone service was established in Christchurch to provide help for the troubled. This number has increased particularly in the last year as the service has gained re-j cognition and acceptance in the community. To cope with the growing demand, however, more counsellors have to be provided, more telephones installed and office snace extended. This means that the cost of maintaining the service is also increasing each year. Last year the service cost more thas 88000 to run, but income only totalled 52556, including 81387 raised from

the first Life Line street appeal. The excess expenditure

was met by the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission, where the Life Line service is based.

Tomorrow the service will hold its second street appeal in Christchurch in an effort to raise funds. It is hoped to raise at. least S2OOO. The liaison officer for the service (Mrs N. Johnston) said that personal counselling formed an important part of Life Line’s work. At present t the six specially-trained coun-ji sellers spend about 80 hours j a month giving interviews. | Many persons may return sev- ( eral times for personal coun- .

selling sessions. Mrs Johnston said that she would like to emphasise that counsellors were not just there to give advice, but to heln the individual to solve hi« own problems At present there are M voluntary telenhone counsel-, lors all over 20 vears of age. who work on a 24-hour roster' svstem Each counsellor is reto attend two sis-week courses in counselling, hut additional in-service training is also given. .

Another aspect of Life Line’s work is that done by the trouble team which is called out in crisis situations. These calls which are received mainly at night, deal usually with threats or attempts at suicide and extreme situations of family strife. Because of the demanding nature of these calls the 25 members of the trouble team are sent out in pairs to deal with each situation. Mrs Johnston said that an important part of Life Line’s organisation was the support and help given by members of the medical profession and other organisations in Christchurch. Many persons who sought help from Life Line were referred to other agencies for assistance.