Page 26 - Sphere No.25 (Aug 2009)

T HE MOST DESPERATE CALLS come in the dead of
the night, the time when distraught, distressed and de-
pressed people are at the end of their tether and feel
they have nowhere else to turn. They are alone and without hope.
Their problems range from gambling debts and business
worries to love affairs, but the most common issue is marital
discord. The economic downturn has made matters worse, in-
creasing pressure on family finances and deepening rifts that
may already exist in troubled marriages.
But help is always at hand. Founded in 2001, the Caritas Fam-
ily Crisis Support Centre is the first of its kind in Hong Kong,
providing telephone hotline services for those in need.
“We are often the last chance for people who are in despair
and want to take their own life or do
something drastic,” said Angie Lai,
the organisation’s Head of Family
Services. “The first job is to calm them down, give them hope
and show them that there are resources in the community that
can help them. The middle of the night is often the time when
people reach their lowest point. That’s why it is so important
to have a professional social worker available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.”
Today, round-the-clock service from the Catholic charity is
possible thanks to financial support from the Li Ka Shing Foun-
dation that has helped the centre double its manpower, move into
new offices and add new hotlines. The enhanced Caritas Family
Crisis Line & Education Centre was launched on 15 April 2008.
As well as adding specialised hotlines covering marital affairs,
children’s issues, love and addiction, the new centre also offers
C O M M U N I T Y
LIFE SUPPO