Suicide alert casts shadow on holiday
| Rise in help calls to counsellors and welfare groups By Melissa Stevens MORE people battle depression and contemplate suicide at Christmas than at any other time, according to a university academic. University of WA psychology professor Kevin Durkin said Christmas was a difficult time for many people because of the pressure of traditional stereotypes such as happy families, generosity and sociability. "The reality for many people is very different," he said." |
Someone spending August 25 alone will not give the
matter a second thought. But spending December 25 alone can be very depressing for some
people." The financial pressures and expectations of Christmas also could have a negative impact. "Problems don’t take holidays and the discrepancy between what we have and what we see as ideal can be thrown into sharp relief," Professor Durkin said. Relationships Australia spokeswoman Janet Renner said marriage counsellors saw an increase in the number of people who could not cope at this time of year. "It’s a time that people spend with family," she said.
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"If family dynamics are not happy, they really
feel it at Christmas time." WA Council of Social Service executive director Shawn Boyle said welfare agencies had more people asking for help this Christmas. The increase came on the back of a testing year for the needy with the introduction of the goods and services tax, rising home loan interest rates and higher petrol costs. Lifeline spokeswoman Julie elder said the agency had seen a 15 per cent rise in people needing financial counselling. Salvation Army spokesman Capt. Ritchie Watson said Christmas was a tough time for |
people who were homeless and isolated. The Salvos provided Christmas dinner and gifts to its hostel residents on Christmas Day. One hostel resident, Paul Keegan, 38, is preparing to spend his third Christmas at the Salvos’ Lentara Hostel, in East Perth. He said it was a lonely time. "Christmas is a time for giving and receiving - you don’t give and you don’t receive," he said. St Kieran’s Catholic parish priest Father Michael Gatt will operate
his annual help line for people feeling lonely and isolated. The phone lines open tomorrow
until December 31. |
(Article and photo courtesy of The West Australian newspaper 16 December 2000)
Help is just a call away
| OSBORNE Park parish priest Michael Gatt will operate a helpline
again this Christmas to help the lonely and distressed. It is the eighth consecutive year he has given up the festive period to listen to anyone who wants to talk confidentially. "There are people out there who need to talk," he said. "It could be because of drugs, domestic violence, family breakups, or because they're contemplating suicide." |
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"People need to know that there is always someone to turn to in a difficult time or crisis. It's hard work but I enjoy it because I'm helping people." The former resident of Malta, who has no family in Australia, has taken about 50 calls each year, usually in equal numbers from men and women. "It usually takes me up to March to clear up all the call," he said "I'm also prepared to meet those who call." For help, from December 17 to 31, call 9444 1334, or email m.gatt@perthcatholic.org.au | |
(Article and photo courtesy of The Stirling Times newspaper 19 December 2000)