Lifeline Fiji today continued their partnership with Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation to further their crisis support work and create more awareness around mental health and suicide prevention.

While handing over the $20,000 cheque to Lifeline Fiji, Vodafone ATH Regional Manager, Nilesh Chand highlighted that this support is small compared to how large the problem of stress, depression and suicide has become in our communities.

Now in their 6^th year of Partnership, Chand is also urging more corporates, families and communities to come together to address this issue of depression that leads to suicide and impacts the success of Fiji and our development.

He also highlighted the Vodafone will soon launch an m-distress channel to raise awareness through the Vodafone platform.

Lifeline Fiji Chairperson, Tiriseyani Naulivou says that the assistance provided is timely and will assist them to continue their outreach programs and help cover some of the administrative costs to continue the work at Lifeline Fiji.

Since its inception in 2016, Lifeline Fiji has received a total of 10,000 calls with 40 percent of their callers contemplating suicide.

Lifeline Fiji Officer in Charge, Jeremaia Merekula highlighted that they provide a listening ear to their callers to assist them overcome their intentions of suicide and provide the necessary help.

He says some of the common issues highlighted by the callers are relationship problems, depression, and financial instability.

The youngest person to have called Lifeline Fiji for help last year was 11 years old.