FINANCIAL pressures, unemployment and housing insecurity are increasingly becoming the source of many Australians' distress, according to new data from Lifeline.
Lifeline revealed this week that around 15% of calls to the mental health service each day are related to cost-of-living related issues, and it expects to receive more than a million calls for support this year.
"What is concerning is that we know the true number of people identifying cost-of-living pressures as their primary reason for contacting Lifeline is actually significantly higher," said Lifeline Australia CEO Colin Seery.
"The statistics do not take into account the 900 help seekers contacting us via our text and webchat services each day, or those reaching to our Support Toolkit or specialised helplines.
"Our centres are also reporting an increase in complex cases, with help seekers presenting in severe distress, having struggled to find relief and feeling like their options are increasingly limited," Seery explained.
According to Lifeline Australia's Chief Research Officer Dr Anna Brooks, financial pressures are being felt by those with a mortgage, as well as those who are renting, with research showing this puts people at increased risk of suicide.
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