Rattenbury to lead Lifeline Canberra as crisis calls surge 61%
Former ACT mental health minister Rattenbury takes CEO role as calls for help jumped 61% in the past year.
Shane Rattenbury, who led the ACT Greens and served as the territory's first dedicated mental health minister, starts at Lifeline Canberra on October 12. The crisis line recorded 61 per cent more calls in 2025-26, a figure Rattenbury called concerning.
Shane Rattenbury said the jump shows real community need, and he plans to ensure Lifeline has trained volunteers to answer the phones. Lifeline Canberra chair Warren Apps said the increase reflected unsettling times across Australia.
About 20 per cent of calls involve domestic violence and 15 per cent focus on problem gambling. Rattenbury said stigma around mental health has fallen, but the system needs more work.
- 61 per cent in 2025-26
- Call increase
- October 12
- Start date
- 20 per cent
- Domestic violence calls
- 15 per cent
- Problem gambling calls
Why it mattersA surge in crisis calls signals rising mental distress in Canberra; strong leadership matters to keep the service funded and staffed.
AustraliaCanberrans and Australians seeking mental health help now have experienced leadership at a key crisis line during a period of high demand.
Corroborated byregion.com.au·canberratimes.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 8 h ago
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