Lifeline WA receives $450k from MinRes

Mineral Resources is set to deliver $450,000 over three years to strengthen Lifeline WA’s digital crisis support services.

The new funding would enhance Lifeline WA’s digital crisis support services by training 300 volunteers to become specialist digital crisis supporters.

The number of Western Australians who contacted Lifeline WA through SMS or online chat between July and November this year was 40 per cent higher than it was for the same five-month period in 2022.

Lifeline WA chief executive Lorna MacGregor said the partnership with MinRes was critical and would enable Lifeline WA to deliver 23,000 more crisis conversations each year.

“We are enormously grateful to MinRes for enabling us to train many more crisis supporters when demand for our services continues to grow at an alarming rate year on year,” Ms MacGregor said at a partnership launch event this morning.

“We are very alarmed about the increase in contacts through digital services.

“Through this partnership, Mineral Resources will be funding training for 100 crisis supporters per year for the next three years.”

Mineral Resources head of mental health Chris Harris said the mining company believed mental health should be given the same priority as physical health.

“The team at Lifeline WA save lives every day and their services are so important at Christmas, when we know mental health challenges can be most acute,” Mr Harris said.

“In November, 50 per cent of [Lifeline WA’s] contacts were through their digital crisis support.

“Demand for this digital service has soared as the cost of living continues to rise and we are committed to helping Lifeline WA meet this growing need."

Lifeline WA recently won WA Business of the Year 2023 at Business News’ RISE Awards in November.

The suicide intervention and mental health service provider also won Not For Profit/Charity of the Year.