Wellington, March 5 NZPA - Concern is becoming widespread over the suspension due to funding issues of Mensline, a volunteer counselling service for men with depression.

Run by Lifeline Auckland, Mensline relies on grants and donations to operate, but tight financial times leading to a lack of such income has forced Lifeline Auckland to suspend the service and also look at other areas where money can be saved.

Acting chief executive Peter Jansen said Lifeline Auckland, which is affiliated to but independent of the national Lifeline organisation, said it was experiencing difficulties similar to other volunteer services -- funding was drying up in tight financial times while costs kept rising.

He said existing funds would be channelled into the 24-hour Lifeline service, ensuring the public still had access to counselling services.

The suspension also means some part-time jobs would be lost, although others would cross over to the Lifeline service.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements said it was a concerning situation, as there was always a chance the service could be cut for good.

"We will be talking to Lifeline to see if there is anything we can do together that might be effective," Ms Clements told NZPA.

"It is important to have a line specifically for men, as they are less likely to come forward and less likely to talk..."

Ms Clements urged people to call Lifeline or the Depression Line and seek information from the Mental Health Foundation's website.

Wigram MP Jim Anderton, who was involved in a suicide prevention strategy when in government, said suicide rates for men were significantly higher than for women -- 370 of 483 people who killed themselves in 2007 were men -- and it was not a good time to drop what has been New Zealand's only phone counselling service targeting men.

He said the Government needed to help figure out how to keep the service going.

"I suspect that the money required to restore the service is considerably less than it costs to fund other help lines like Quitline for smokers or the Gambling Helpline," Mr Anderton said.

Mr Jansen said he was humbled by the support being shown following the decision to suspend Mensline and was hopeful the organisation would be able to resurrect the service.

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