Lifeline WA volunteers like Gaby Gunder dedicating their Christmas Day to help others in their darkest hour

While most West Australians will be enjoying Christmas Day with their family, Gaby Gunder will be helping those in their hour of need.

It will be the 13th consecutive year the volunteer crisis supporter has dedicated her Christmas morning to ensuring vulnerable, desperate and emotionally distraught people have someone to reach out to.

The 58-year-old said she considered helping people on Christmas Day a privilege.

“When you look in the papers, or you look at the telly, it all looks so sparkly and gorgeous and everyone is happy on these pages, but then you pick up the phone and you figure out they’re not,” she said.

“That first Christmas volunteering I just saw the heaviness . . . that is probably the reason I do this every year.

“If at the end of a call you know that someone is safe now because they picked up the phone and we were there to answer, it is such an intense privilege.”

Ms Gunder said there are many reasons people call Lifeline on Christmas Day including family conflict, estrangement from family members, and loneliness.

“There’s just such intense suffering and I think part of it is because they are okay with their solitude during the rest of the year and then when everyone seems to be enjoying their lunch and enjoying the family they just don’t have that,” Ms Gunder said.

“The gap is really present for them and I think there’s a lot of of added suffering because of that.”

Lifeline WA chief executive Lorna MacGregor said people like Ms Gunder epitomise the wonderful values and dedication of people who train to become crisis supporters.

“If people find themselves in distress and particularly, if they find themselves having thoughts of suicide on Christmas, they can be reassured that Lifeline is here all day,” she said.

“It might be Christmas Day but our volunteers are here and people like Gaby, who epitomise kindness and compassion . . . will be at the end of the phone. I can guarantee they will be heard and listened to, and they will leave that conversation in a calmer state of mind.”

The suicide prevention agency is calling on West Australians to support its annual Christmas appeal, Lights for Lifeline WA.

The campaign is hoping to raise $12,500 on each day of December to keep life-saving conversations happening throughout the festive season.

“The money raised from our campaign goes into training more incredible people like Gaby to ensure that hope and understanding is only a phone call away,” Ms MacGregor said.

“Our goal is to answer every call for help as we believe no one should have to face their darkest moments alone, not just during the festive season but year-round.”

To find out more information visit Lifeline’s website here.

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114, or chat online lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat