A suicide-prevention group is stepping up training on counselling callers who have financial difficulties.
Suicide Prevention Services handled 4,200 calls in September and October, a 5 per cent increase over the same period last year, said Susanna Chung San-san, a member of its board of governors.
About 25 per cent were related to financial difficulties, which made the group realise the need to train its volunteers.
Eighty per cent of the callers were aged 30 to 50, and high-earning professionals. Many more men called in than previously.
'We are training our volunteers so they will know how to handle callers with financial problems,' Ms Chung said.
Training this month would involve three sessions, with up to 40 volunteers in each session, she said.
The service already had about 280 volunteers who underwent training in handling calls when they signed up. This year, 100 new volunteers have been recruited.