• LIFELINE RECEIVES AROUND 500 CALLS A DAY RELATED TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
• FIGURES SHOW AN INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF MALE CALLERS CITING EMPLOYMENT STRESS.
• LATEST ABS DATA SHOWS DISADVANTAGE IS CLOSELY LINKED TO INCREASED SUICIDE RISK.
Fresh figures reveal financial distress continues to be a leading driver of demand for Lifeline's crisis support services, with hundreds of Australians reaching out over the phone every day for help in managing cost-of-living pressures and economic hardship.
Lifeline receives an average of 3,000 calls a day via the organisation’s crisis support phone services. Since January 2025, figures show 15-18% of all calls are related to financial hardship (financial distress, employment and housing & homelessness), with cost-of-living pressures remaining a significant source of distress for Australians.
Figures reveal that, while financial stress affects callers across genders equally, over the past 24 months, the percentage of help seekers who identify as male specifically reporting employment stress has increased from 9.8% (early 2025) to 11.6% (February 2026).
Lifeline’s online Support Toolkit, which empowers help seekers to access support on their own terms, also reflects high demand, while support for financial stress remains the second most-searched risk factor on Lifeline’s website after substance misuse.
Lifeline Australia Chair Professor Steve Moylan said the persistent demand highlighted the ongoing challenges many Australians are facing.
“Whether it’s events overseas, cost-of-living, homelessness, violence against women or a myriad of other factors affecting people’s lives, what we are seeing is that the volume of people experiencing distress and requiring support remains elevated,” he said.
“What’s even more striking is that these figures represent a conservative estimate as they do not take into account the 900 help seekers contacting Lifeline via text and webchat services each day, or those via the Support Toolkit or other services,” he added.
As well as telephone and digital support, Lifeline has 43 centres across Australia. Some offer face-to-face crisis support as well as financial counselling.
“Across our services, we are seeing people present with a more complex array of challenges, and some Centres have even expanded support to include emergency relief efforts such as setting up food banks and even providing support to help buy essential medications,” Professor Moylan said.
Lifeline Australia's Chief Research Officer, Dr Anna Brooks, said the latest ABS Suicide data[i] supports a robust and growing body of evidence which demonstrates that suicide rates increase as a function of socioeconomic disadvantage.
“In 2024, the rate for the most socioeconomically disadvantaged people was over two-and-a-half times the rate for those in the most advantaged group,” she said.
“There's also a positive correlation between financial distress and suicide risk for both males and females. This is consistent with existing evidence that financial distress significantly impacts upon risk of suicide.”
Lifeline is committed to supporting any Australian through their toughest moments and providing them with the most appropriate care.
If you, or someone you know are feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to connect with Lifeline in the way you feel most comfortable.
About us:
GETTING SUPPORT
You can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114, or chat to Lifeline online (all services are available 24/7). If you’re struggling to know where to turn, Lifeline’s Support Toolkit can help you find the right support at the right time.
For Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander peoples: If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, you can connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 days) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
ABOUT LIFELINE
For over 60 years, Lifeline has been connecting with Australians, offering free and confidential one-to-one crisis support for people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Trained Crisis Supporters listen without judgement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As well as operating the 13 11 14 telephone line within 43 Centres around the nation, the organisation also delivers 24/7 crisis text, webchat and a Support Toolkit.
Lifeline expects to respond to over 1.5 million requests for support this year, creating an average of 120 safety plans a day to keep a person experiencing suicidal ideation safe.
Visit lifeline.org.au/donate to support Lifeline.
Contact details:
INTERVIEWS AND COMMENTARY: [email protected] | 0408 407 376 (NO SMS)
