Crisis line sticker initiative to roll out in 15,000 Australian payphones

The government has launched a new campaign to help make crisis support more accessible to people across the country.

Thousands of payphones across the country will be kitted out with stickers promoting support and crisis helplines amid ballooning demand for mental health support.

About 15,000 payphones, operated by Telstra, will soon prominently feature the numbers of six national support services: 1800 RESPECT, Lifeline, 13 YARN, Kids Helpline, MensLine Australia and the National Debt Helpline.

Calls from payphones are free and the government is hopeful the latest campaign will give them a new lease on life.

Thousands of payphones across the country will be kitted out with stickers advertising support and crisis helplines. Picture: Supplied

Colleen Birchley, head of 1800 RESPECT and Telstra Health spokeswoman, said the payphones provided valuable support to some of Australia’s most “vulnerable and disadvantaged”.

“The national support services are proud to work alongside Telstra to ensure callers are provided with clear information about the types of support they can access any time of day,” she said.

In the last reporting period, more than 23 million calls were made through a Telstra payphone.

Meanwhile, Lifeline is now fieldings more than one million calls for help each year, with Telstra reporting a 30 per cent increase in calls to the crisis line in the past year.

The stickers include phone numbers for six major crisis lines.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said she hoped the initiative would help raise awareness and connect more Australians who need help to the services.

“These critical services provide free support for anyone facing mental health challenges, experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, or in need of financial advice and support,” she said.

“More than 23 million free calls were made through a Telstra payphone during the last reporting period.

“If this initiative helps raise awareness of and connects even just a small number of those callers to these services, that’s a positive outcome”.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the initiative would help connect more Australians to lifesaving services. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Assistant Social Services Minister Justine Elliott said the initiative would be a lifeline for Australians struggling.

“Having the details of these support services will remind those in need that help is only a phone call away,” she said.

“It’s critical that people affected by domestic, family and sexual violence be aware that there are services like 1800 RESPECT that they can call 24/7 when they need support.

“We want everyone to know that if you are experiencing personal or financial distress, or are affected by domestic, family or sexual violence, you can reach out to these services for free and immediate support, advice or referrals.”

Stickers began appearing on payphones in capital cities this week, with the majority of sites to be rolled out by the first half of 2024.

Originally published as Crisis line sticker initiative to roll out in 15,000 Australian payphones