LIFE-LINE SERVICE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31114, 18 July 1966, Page 7

LIFE-LINE SERVICE

Demand Growing Demand for the Life-line service has grown continually during the last year, says the Life-line Committee’s annual report A total of 1174 calls were received in the year to June 30, compared with 750 in the first year of the service. Of the 1924 calls dealt with during both years, 445 concerned marriage and family guidance followed by social welfare (384) and spiritual guidance (263). Other calls dealt with subjects ranging from psychiatric to financial and legal problems. Personal counselling after telephone contact totalled 678, and “trouble team” calls, where two or three persons went to help a person immediately, totalled 62. Since the introduction of a 24-hour service on May 13, after hours calls (11 p.m. to 9 a.m.) have totalled 21. The number shows that “the extension has been justified,” the report says. The report thanks other denominations for supplying telephone counsellors. “Undoubtedly, one of the inherent strengths of Life-line has been the splendid response of members of various denominations, who have so willingly accepted the call to act as telephone counsellors,” it says. “The time given, and the dedication shown by this group has been the base upon which we have been able to build the service.” The decision to establish a body of financial supporters, known as the Friends of Lifeline, and the growing pressure of counselling work, make it appear that the appointment of a full-time social worker will be necessary, says the report. The Friends will pay an annual subscription of £2 2s towards the cost of running the service, now paid for almost entirely from the Methodist Central Mission’s social service account