Give now and save a life

We all aspire to the idea of peace and goodwill and jollity. But for a lot of people Christmas is a less than happy time, made worse by the fact that others around us seem to be enjoying themselves Many can feel depressed and suicidal, like Elizabeth Treasure. The festive season may also accentuate feelings of loneliness, or bring to a head problems in marriages or relationships. And it's not just Christmas itself. The long holiday, when many normal aspects of life are interrupted, can bring feelings of desolation, disappointment and isolation.

We all aspire to the idea of peace and goodwill and jollity. But for a lot of people Christmas is a less than happy time, made worse by the fact that others around us seem to be enjoying themselves Many can feel depressed and suicidal, like Elizabeth Treasure. The festive season may also accentuate feelings of loneliness, or bring to a head problems in marriages or relationships. And it's not just Christmas itself. The long holiday, when many normal aspects of life are interrupted, can bring feelings of desolation, disappointment and isolation.

This is where SANELINE provides a vital lifeline as the only national out-of-hours mental health helpline open over the Christmas period and throughout the year. Staffed by trained volunteers, it provides emotional support, crisis care and practical information for those with problems and their families. It also has a unique "Caller Care" service which calls back people who are known to be alone or distressed.

But such a dedicated approach costs money. We are asking you to give generously to support the 220 volunteers who take 1,000 calls a week. And your generosity will make a big difference. SANELINE is there not just for Christmas but throughout the year.

* £20 could save a life. It will pay the full costs of dealing with a call. A tenth of callers are suicidal.

* £100 will enable the "Caller Care" team to make vital return calls for a week.

* £250 will enable more than 100 people to call from anywhere for the price of a local call.