Record number of calls, texts to Lifeline amid anti-femicide campaign

A record number of people have reached out to one essential service amid fears about cost of living and mounting violence.

Mental health service Lifeline was contacted by a record number of people on Sunday amid rallies across the country calling for an end to violence against women.

The national crisis support service said it received almost 3500 voice calls to its 24/7 hotline on Sunday as well as almost 1000 web chat and text messages.

Between calls and digital contacts, Lifeline believed Sunday ranked as its busiest day on record with a whopping 20 per cent rise on the year-to-date average.

Lifeline chief executive Colin Seery said the demand on services was “unprecedented” and the horrific attacks in recent weeks had left the community reeling.

“Lifeline received more contacts from helpseekers than ever before … These figures clearly tell us is there is a great deal of distress in the community,” Mr Seery said.

“Whether it is events overseas, the cost of living, homelessness, violence against women or other factors affecting people’s lives, the level of distress and anxiety is very high.

A record number of people reached out to mental health service Lifeline on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“The systemic problem of violence against women has put men’s use of violence against women at the forefront of public discussion again. All men have a role to play”.

The number of calls also represented the highest in any single day so far this year, while the number of messages was the second highest ever for Lifeline.

It comes amid a renewed focused on violence against women following a spate of recent high-profile fatal attacks on women across the country.

The Bondi Junction Westfield massacre, during which five women were killed, has also been a focus of anti-violence and femicide campaigners.

Thousands took to the street in rallies across three country on Sunday, including outside Parliament House where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for more action.

Originally published as Record number of calls, texts to Lifeline amid anti-femicide campaign