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Elderly Suicides
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There
are always news reports concerning elderly suicides. From 1997 to
2001, a total of 1,329 elderly people have committed suicide, making
the highest suicide rate of all age groups. In 2001, 270 elderly people
(those aged 60 and above) gave up their own lives, marking up 27.3%
of all suicide cases in Hong Kong. This means one elderly person commits
suicide in every 32 hours.
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Outreach Elderly Suicide Prevention Service
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According
to the research publication ˇ§Elderly Suicides in Hong Kongˇ¨
published in 1997, elderly people are likely to give out warning signs
prior to committing suicide. Hence, it is of great importance for
the public to be educated and need pay more attention to such symptoms,
and learn to tackle the problem.
In May 1998, ˇ§Suicide Prevention Servicesˇ¨ started a pioneer pilot
project to check the rising trend of elderly suicides. It is done
through arousing publicˇ¦s awareness and equipping them with the required
knowledge and skills so as to reduce elderly suicides. |
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Content
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The
project include 2 major components:
(A)
Community Education
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Aims
: To raise general awareness
towards elderly suicide prevention among members of public,
e.g. elderly, family members, medical professionals, so that
they can provide care and support to the elderly in need and
refer them to appropriate agencies for appropriate actions.
Contents :
Talk, Training, Roving Exhibition & Mass programs |
We
welcome invitations to co-organise talks and training sessions from
other agencies.
(B) Outreach Befriending Service for Suicidal
Elderly
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Aims
: To
provide emotional support to needy elderly so as to alleviate
suicidal risks, misery, despair and depression of the elderly.
Contents :
On receipt of referral, we would arrange for trained volunteers
to visit and maintain phone contacts with their clients. If
they have other needs, we would make referral on their behalf.
Our target group are the elderly in distress. However, priority
will always be given to suicidal elderly. |
For
enquiry or information, please call 2382
2001 or 2382
8470 for our staff.
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Volunteer Recruitment
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In order to reach out to more needy elderly, we are now recruiting
volunteers for this worthwhile service. To become our volunteer, no
special qualifications are required. If you are willing to extend
love and concern to others and willing to spend time on volunteering,
and
Aged 21 or above
Willing to listen, receptive to the elderly in distress
Willing to handle 2 cases with a partner, and make about 4 visits
and telephone contacts to the clients. (the service frequency will
depend on the need of the clients)
Passing a 6-month probation period, after that, willing to commit
the service at least 6 months so as to make use of our training resource.
Passing the selection and completing training course
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