Lifeline website goes live

The Health Minister has today launched the Lifeline helpline website.

The new website: www.lifelinehelpline.info has been developed to improve awareness of the Lifeline services which are available for people in crisis, despair and emotional distress.

Speaking at the launch in Donegall Pass Community Forum in Belfast, Michael McGimpsey said: “Since I took the decision to introduce the Lifeline helpline across Northern Ireland, it has proven itself to be a hugely important service. The value of Lifeline is particularly pertinent at this time of the year when the pressures and strains of the festive season can become too much for some people. The dedicated website enhances that service by informing people of the support available through Lifeline 0808 808 8000.”

The Minister added: “Lifeline is much more than a telephone helpline. It is about saving lives. The people who answer the phones are trained counsellors who can deal with issues such as suicide, self-harm, abuse, trauma, anxiety and depression. They offer immediate help over the phone line and can arrange personal counselling in local areas, such as here in Donegall Pass.”

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency, said: “The new Lifeline website has been developed to raise awareness and provide information about Lifeline’s 24/7 helpline service.

“The new site will prove a vital resource for people who may be in need of help and want to find out more about the service that Lifeline has to offer. The website will also be useful in providing professionals or those wanting to support a friend or family member with information about the service.”

Commenting on the launch of the new Lifeline website, Norma Patterson, Corporate Director, Contact Youth, providers of the Lifeline helpline and counselling service said:

“We welcome the launch of the new Lifeline website in advance of the Christmas period, a time when our past experience shows that many people experience extreme loneliness and despair. The Lifeline service is available 24/7 including over the Christmas and New Year holidays. We are here when many other support services may not be available and we would encourage people in distress or those with relatives or friends in emotional despair to call the helpline at any time over the festive period.

“Increasingly, the internet is the first port of call for us all when looking for information. We hope that the new website will increase accessibility to information about our services and about how we can help and support individuals, their families and friends.

“It is critical that people in distress have access to the help they need when they need it and I would encourage all community organisations and those who work in the wide range of organisations that seek to support people with emotional problems to promote the Lifeline helpline 0808 808 8000 number on their promotional literature and answering machines over the Christmas period. Creating a link to the Lifeline website from their website would also be very useful in increasing the helpline’s visibility for those who need it.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Lifeline number is 0808 808 8000 and lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls are free from all landlines and mobile phones. The website address is: www.lifelinehelpline.info
2. Over 120,000 calls were made to Lifeline during its first 18 months in operation.
3. The Lifeline counselling service is delivered by Contact Youth in partnership with a Northern Ireland-wide network of community based organisations which provide face-to-face counselling, complementary therapies and befriending to clients referred from Lifeline.
4. The Donegall Pass Community Forum is one of Lifeline’s partner organisations and since April 2009 they have provided counselling and other therapeutic support to 100 clients referred by Lifeline.
5. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) is providing up to £3.5million for the Lifeline service, which is now an integral part of the drive against suicide in Northern Ireland.
6. Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.