Lifeline Nelspruit had a particularly difficult 2024 and had to adapt to doing more with a lot less.
Annriette Slabber, director of Lifeline Nelspruit, says that with the help of staff members who had walked the extra mile to ensure professional and quality service, they could reach their target in accordance with the organisation’s business plan.
“We did this in line with our mission to offer mental- and emotional-health services within the culture of human rights through programmes that are preventative and responsive,” she says.
Lifeline completed a total of 15 campaigns, reaching 598 people. They also did 102 presentation sessions at schools, clinics, wellness days, tertiary institutions and community events, reaching a total of 5 848 beneficiaries.
These prevention and awareness talks focussed on mental health, parenting, gender-based violence, relationships, stress management, personal growth, bullying, self-care, bereavement, communication skills, conflict and anger management – all related to family preservation.
“Our outreach offices are based in Matsulu, Kabokweni, Msogwaba and we recently also opened an office in Schoemansdal (Nkomazi),” Slabber says.
Lifeline presented 21 structured debriefing sessions to community members, staff organisations, clinics and health-care workers, focusing on desensitisation and debriefing, relationships, work-life balance and listening skills. This reached 165 beneficiaries.
Lifeline also conducted group work with victims of violence, learners, teenage mothers, single parents and the bereaved. The sessions focused on life skills, values, self- esteem, women empowerment, bereavement cycle, GBV coping skills, positive parenting, stress management and personal growth and anti-bullying strategies. This reached 82 people.
A total of 88 people were reached through non-accredited training/capacity-building workshops with community members, health-care workers, care givers, TB/HIV peer educators, teachers and staff of community-based organisations.
Employee-assistance programmes
Lifeline Nelspruit also offers employee-assistance programmes to employees of corporate institutions, motivating mental wellness in the workplace.
“Mental and emotional wellness improves productivity, work ethos, relationship burn-out symptoms, and work-life balance. Informal and formal agreements were signed with Lifeline Nelspruit to deliver psychosocial support and preventative services to their employees,” Slabber says.
Psychosocial support services
Although psychosocial intervention statistics are not very high, it is still an achievement to have reached 389 beneficiaries through face-to-face and telephone-counselling sessions.
“The stigma regarding mental and emotional wellness is one of the preventative factors that influence the individual person’s decision to reach out for therapy, leading to people not completing their session,” Slabber says. “But, we have received positive feedback and changes in attitude and behaviour, and emotional and mental wellness can be seen as achievements in the journey of addressing wellness issues.”
In his annual chairperson’s report, Greg Sebastian said it was indeed a challenging year for LifeLine Nelspruit.
“We lost significant financial support, which made it very difficult to render services to the communities. We had to sell some of our assets. We had to renegotiate with our service providers for new payment plans and unfortunately we had to lay off some of our counsellors. Funding from Social Services enabled us to continue to render services where needed,” he said.
“I would also like to thank the donors for their contributions and a huge thank you to SANCA who helped us by reducing our office rental for the year.”
Sebastian also thanked Lifeline director Annriette Slabber, Beulah Swart, and the staff members who still did their jobs and achieved outstanding results, as well as the board members of LifeLine Nelspruit for their continued prayers and support.
“As we continue on this journey of providing emotional support to those who need it the most, I pray that God makes the new year a better one when it comes to finances and dedication of people towards LifeLine and that each member be blessed abundantly,” he concluded.
About Lifeline:
LifeLine Nelspruit was established in 2001. This was out of a need for community members to have access to a 24-hour telephonic service that can assist them to address the psychological and social stresses and trauma that they are struggling to deal with, such as family problems, trauma, depression, loneliness, bereavement, sexual and gender violence, or any other situation where a person is struggling to cope with life in general.
LifeLine Nelspruit aims to cultivate and grow emotional and mental wellness in individuals and communities through face-to-face and telephonic counselling.
Non-accredited training and capacity building are offered by engaging and mobilising communities.
LifeLine is also in the position to issue Section 18A certificates to donors.
Lifeline is available on 013 755 2635, 013 755 3606 or 082 554 1182, or on email annriette@xsinet.co.za.
The banking details are:
- Lifeline Nelspruit
- Nedbank Nelspruit
- Branch code: 198765
- Account number: 1589 386078
