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LGBT+ support service OUTLine has seen a 50 percent increase in the number of calls received, with more than 11,000 calls received over a one year period ending 31 March.
OUTLine General Manager, Trevor Easton, puts the increase down to the organisation raising its profile drastically over the past few years.
“I think it’s more that they feel that they trust our service. I don’t think there’s more need, but these people have not known where to go to talk.”
He says there are more people wanting to discuss the subject of gender identity and more people calling who have mental health issues.
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“The range of issues that people call us has grown and become more complex.”
OUTLine has three formally qualified counsellors and one final-year intern on staff as well as 138 Auckland based trained volunteers.
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