Volunteers in Bendigo picked up the phone on almost 20,000 of those calls, down from 22,000 in 2014. 

Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee CEO Leo Schultz said funding strain had caused them to abandon a training course for new volunteers in the second half of last year. 

“It was ultimately a funding issue,” Mr Schultz said. 

“We only put volunteers on when we can afford to support them with their paid supervisor staff.

“It is of the utmost importance … to look after the welfare of our volunteers.

“They are listening to stories of trauma, and there is potential for them to be suffer from trauma as a result of hearing those stories.”

He said more and more people were calling Lifeline, as demonstrated by the national figures, but only 85 per cent of calls get answered. 

About every 30 seconds, someone makes a crisis call to the 24/7 suicide prevention service. 

“On the surface, it can look like if there is a massive increase in calls, it looks like the community is struggling more or there are more people in crisis.  

“On the contrary, a lot of the issues around mental health and suicide ideation have been destigmatised, so they are more likely to put up their hand to ask for help. 

“That can be seen as a positive.”

Mr Shultz said he was calling on the community to help support Lifeline, and that new training for volunteers would take place before July this year. 

Lifeline Australia CEO Pete Shmigel said the organisation saw its busiest four-month period ever between September and December, with more than 84,000 calls received and 71,000 calls answered.

“It’s heart-wrenching that there are so many in our community in crisis and needing support, but it is heart-warming that they can rely on the compassionate and effective help,” Mr Shmigel said. 

“Lifeline … is always there for those confronting crisis and suicide, but also for those who trust us with their ongoing and often complex problems.

“There are never any hoops to jump through or barriers to receiving help or judgements made – we provide a confidential and caring service.”

Lifeline: 13 11 14.