The Australian National University (ANU) has launched a new out-of-hours crisis phoneline to help callers suffering from emotional distress.
The service is being operated by University Crisis Line, a business unit of Lifeline Direct, which has been working closely with ANU to identify the specific needs of the university’s community.
As well as after hours on weekdays, the new telephone line will operate on weekends and public holidays.
General Manager of University Crisis Line, Niall Mulligan said the service was intended to help callers find immediate relief.
“It also helps callers to explore coping strategies for the current crisis, safely manage any immediate threats to life or safety and open pathways for longer-term solutions and next steps for the caller to take,” Mr Mulligan said.
“The new service will work in with the university’s already extensive counselling support network and existing ANU protocols around these services for students.”
The University’s Deputy Director for Access, Inclusion and Wellbeing, Tania Willis said the service would be closely connected with the ANU counselling team and where risk was an issue, after-hours calls would be referred to a more acute service if needed.
“The ANU counselling team will then follow up or make appointments with the student when the counselling centre is next open,” Ms Willis said.
“As part of the new crisis line service, a supplementary SMS text message service is also available for those wanting to reach out but who prefer to do so discreetly.”
The crisis support line is on 1300 050 327 between 5pm and 9am weekdays and 24/7 weekends and txts can be sent to 0488 884 170.
