Lifeline now toll free

Lifeline which celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year, was almost closed down after finances and volunteers became scarce.

Lifeline director Lucretia Gabriel said she was grateful for the support extended by TSTT and is optimistic this gesture would help maximize the organisation’s reach and continue to assist those in need of help.

“We are grateful for this gesture from TSTT to help Lifeline maximise our reach and availability to those who need us the most.

“We know sometimes it might be difficult to take that step and reach out to someone and just talk, but we want everyone who accesses our service to know that Lifeline is ready to listen,” Gabriel said.

TSTT Vice President (Marketing) Camille Campbell said the gesture marked the first step in what her company hopes is a long and beneficial relationship with Lifeline, adding she believes that by increasing the ease of access to the hotline, many lives could potentially be saved.

“This toll-free service is the first that we will provide and we are continuing to work with Lifeline to include additional features to help provide a complete commu n i c at i ons solution that will enable Lifeline’s trained volunteers to serve those in need with greater flexibility and at the optimum convenience for callers,” Campbell said.

Earlier this year, 24-year-old UWI engineering student Matthew Levi Caesar left relatives and friends stunned and deeply traumatised when he committed suicide by drinking a poisonous substance on a football field at campus. Caesar’s death has since shone a light on the issue of depression and suicide especially among youths.

lifeline can be reached at 800-5588 and two other toll-free lines, 231-2824 from Digicel, and 220-3636 from FLOW. People wishing to donate to Lifeline can make deposits to Republic Bank account number 1601 0513 1401