The Samoa Victim Support Group has become the newest Member of Lifeline International, a
network of 27 Members around the world, who run crisis support phone lines.
SVSG was approached in February this year to join the global network as a Member in Samoa,
given the organization’s 24 hour free Helpline service for people in crisis situations, which aligned
well with those of the network Members.
It was an invitation that came at the right time, as SVSG’s Helpline has provided prevention and
support services for our community for fourteen years now since 2013.
There are now over 200 LifeLine Centres operated by 28 Members in 24 countries, and SVSG is the
newest Member.
The network provides critical community-based suicide prevention services, delivers suicide and
crisis support helplines, and collectively responds to more than 2 million people in crisis and at risk
of suicide every year.
In Samoa, SVSG’s Helpline gives people access to support such as telephone counselling, gender-
based violence response and suicide crisis support, 24/7 free of charge.
As a Member of LifeLine International, SVSG will utilize the range of benefits to Members including
opportunity to share best practice knowledge and standards of practice, research, training,
networking, and access to a suicide prevention grants program.
President of SVSG Siliniu Lina Chang says “becoming a Member of LifeLine International opens up
new opportunities for SVSG. The network provides a vital platform for improving and scaling up
suicide prevention services both locally and internationally. SVSG’s 24/7 free Helpline and
community-based awareness programs, led by trained village representatives, play a crucial role in
this effort.”
“The opportunity for capacity building, networking, and global discussions on suicide prevention as
a public health priority is one of the benefits of being a member of LifeLine International, which
SVSG is looking forward to.”
For more information, visit the LifeLine International website here: https://lifeline-
international.com/