The hotline service has been in operation since 1995. Being highly confidential, it is dedicated to depressed, desperate and suicidal people of all ages. The hotline is manned by well-trained volunteers. Through active listening, care and acceptance, the callers are offered emotional support helping them to regain the will to live on.
Since December 2001, SPS started an elderly hotline 2382 0881 serving suicidal elderly who suffer from depression. The hotline service aims at providing timely emotional support services and makes referrals for any high-risk elderly.
24-hours Suicide Prevention Services 2382 0000
2007/08 Service Statistics
Number of Handled Calls
During the year of 2007/08, SPS has handled 24,154 hotline calls. Reviewing the past 5 years, there is an average of over 23,000 calls annually.
Problem Nature
Changes always cause stress. With the rapid changes in economic and family structure, people facing different stresses daily. The number of calls mentioning family or peer relationship is the major problem suffered by the callers (30%). Other major problems come from health condition - physical & psychological (28%), unemployment or financial stress (22%) and love or marriage (20%).
Suicidal Risk
Over 70% of the calls handled indicated emotional distress (41%) and suicidal tendencies at high risk levels (33%).
Gender of Callers
Percentage of male callers is same as female callers.
Age of Callers
The majority of calls were from people aged 19-30 (22%). Only 1% of the callers aged 60 or above and this justified the need of providing home visits to suicidal elderly.
