Glencore Coal has announced a partnership worth more than $100,000 with Lifeline Hunter which will see an additional 30 crisis supporters deployed to meet the overwhelming demand of phone calls.

Currently there are calls that go unanswered as there is a lack of suitably trained crisis supporters to meet the demand but the partnership with Glencore will increase Lifeline’s capacity to answer calls.

It is forecast that an additional 8,250 calls to Lifeline will be able answered annually thanks to the investment.

Robert Sams, Lifeline Hunter CEO, said; “Partnering with organisations like Glencore is critical in Lifeline making sure that we are there to meet people who call us at any time of the day or night. By training additional crisis supporters, we will make sure that no-one has to face their darkest moments alone.”

The Hunter region, including the Singleton and Muswellbrook LGA’s, like many regional areas has a rate of suicide, greater than the Australian average and an estimated 50,000 calls each year emanate from the Hunter region.

That’s what makes this partnership so critical.

The funding from Glencore will provide 150 hours of training to each crisis supporter including workshops, role plays, mentoring and individual supervision of initial shifts.

“Our Community Investment program is about supporting the communities that host our operations and especially building the capacity of organisations like Lifeline to respond to the needs of the community,” Glencore, Community Relations Manager, Craig Strudwick said.

“Training an additional 30 Lifeline crisis supports will help build Lifeline’s capacity to respond to the mental health wellbeing and suicide prevention needs of our communities,” Craig finished.

IMAGE | Lifeline crisis support workers, Jen and Tammi