Demand for grief helpline rises 1100% but loses government funding

ABC News Radio

A national helpline that provides confidential counselling to Australians experiencing grief, loss and trauma has seen a huge jump in calls for help.

Griefline says its volunteers have been inundated since May, and has seen an 11-hundred percent increase in phone calls from the beginning of this year.

But its funding from the Victoria state government has ceased, and they have not been able to secure federal funding.

The board co-chair of Griefline, Sarah Godfrey, has told ABC NewsRadio’s Thomas Oriti, with training required for 90 volunteers, the service is not sustainable without funding.