When I first signed up for Lifeline training, I expected to learn how to help others. What I didn’t realise was how much the journey would help me.
The >150 hours of training—an intricate blend of self-paced learning, role-plays, and face-to-face sessions—felt like a juggling act at times. Between work, life, my beautiful kids and the emotional weight of preparing to support people in crisis, I often wondered if I was absorbing enough, if I would be ready when the time came to take my first real call.
And then, suddenly, training was over. The hours spent navigating challenging conversations with trainers and fellow trainees, the moments of doubt and growth, the deepening of empathy and active listening skills—it all became part of me. The memory of the effort faded, but the impact remained.
Long before I sat down at the phone console for the first time, I realised that I had already received far more than I had given.
I had gained a new way of listening—not just hearing words, but truly understanding what lay beneath them. I had learned to sit with discomfort, to hold space for another person’s pain without rushing to fix it. I had been given the privilege of connection, the realisation that simply being present can be the greatest gift of all.
And perhaps most unexpectedly, I had become more aware of my own emotions, my own needs, and my own resilience.
When my first shift finally arrived today, I wasn’t the same person who had nervously clicked “enrol” all those months ago. Of course, I still felt the butterflies of uncertainty, but I also felt something else—trust.
Trust in the training that had shaped me. Trust in the support of my mentors and fellow crisis supporters. Trust in the power of simply being there for another human being.
The caller didn’t know it was my first shift. They didn’t realise the countless hours of preparation, the personal growth, the late nights spent practising the reflection of someone’s pain with other students.
All they knew was that someone was there, willing to listen.
And in that moment, nothing else mattered.
I have learned that it’s not about giving advice; it’s about helping people find their own solutions and inner resilience, which can have a lasting impact on their well-being. I wasn’t seeking it, but it is making a difference to my own well-being.
Becoming a crisis supporter isn’t just about giving—it’s about growing. It’s about becoming more present, open, and connected to the world. I set out to support others, but in doing so, I found that I was supported too. That is the true gift of this journey.
I’m proud to be accepted as a small, new, squeaky clean cog in this vital service, knowing that every conversation has the potential to make a real difference in someone’s life. A steady presence for someone feeling lost or overwhelmed.
My journey at Lifeline is just beginning, and it has already allowed me to grow into a more compassionate and self-aware person. For this, I am deeply grateful. To grow personally in 12 weeks………. What else am I capable of?