Help needed for Lifeline

Stopping stigma of mental illness

The greatest form of respect you can pay someone is to listen to them.

And, as the 70 or so attendees at a session about Depression, Anxiety and Isolation in the Workplace were told, actively listening to the people around us can make all the difference. 

Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee hosted the event at the Discovery Centre on Wednesday evening. 

It served as an opportunity to learn more about mental health in the workplace, and about the work of the organisation, which is seeking financial donations from the Bendigo community to maintain and expand its services. 

The first speaker, Lifeline telephone crisis supporter Robin Tchernomoroff, set the tone for the evening with her speech about her experiences. 

She thought her background in nursing would have primed her for the role when she started volunteering with the centre in Bendigo seven years ago.

“One of the first things the training taught me was how little we actually listen in our everyday lives,” she said.

She realised most people listened to discern how best they could respond to what was being said, not to hone into the messages the other person was communicating, both in what they said and the way they went about it. 

Having now answered more than 2000 calls from people in crisis, and become a Lifeline Central Victoria and Mallee board member, Ms Tchernomoroff has realised the value of a sympathetic ear. 

“There are so many people who don’t have somebody who will listen to them,” she said. 

“For many people, that’s what they need.” 

Although some callers might want to discuss solutions to their concerns, others just wanted an opportunity to be heard. 

Ms Tchernomoroff said sometimes a Lifeline telephone crisis supporter would be the first person a caller had interacted with in some time. 

“A crisis is something determined by the person who is in the moment,” she said. 

Sometimes, noticing a person was in crisis could be a struggle – topics consequent speakers Michelle Forrester and Jenny Arnold from Bendigo Health discussed, as did Suicide Prevention Awareness Network Bendigo (SPAN) co-founder and spokeswoman Alannah McGregor. 

“Listen with your ears, listen with your eyes and listen with your heart,” Mrs McGregor said. 

Attendee Gabriela Fabiane said she was considering re-joining Lifeline as a volunteer. 

“There is a great need,” she said.

She encouraged people in need of support to call the 24-hour Lifeline 13 11 14 hotline.