Not only is a lack of personnel crippling the efforts of suicide hotlines in Taipei, but a lack of financial resources is a serious problem too, according to the head of Taiwan's oldest suicide hotline.
"We've been trying very hard to provide the best service possible, but we desperately need people and money," said Chu Kai-yu (朱開玉), chairman of the Taipei Life-Line Association.
Taipei Life-Line, founded 32 years ago in 1969, was the first hotline to be established in Taiwan.
Earlier this week, DPP city councilors Tuan Yi-kang (
The survey showed that roughly 11 percent of calls placed to the Teacher Chang Youth Counseling Center (張老師) were successfully connected. At the Taipei Life-Line Association, about 13 percent of the calls got through, and at the 1995 Life Line (生命專線) just over 14 percent of the calls placed got through.
They survey also indicated that at certain times it took 29 hours to get through to the Taipei Life-Line Association.
Chu said that she was stunned to learn of the news.
"We have three hotlines open 24 hours a day and two online counseling services available. I encourage those who have a hard time getting through to try again or seek help elsewhere," she said.
Chu admitted, however, that the economic downturn has had a substantial impact on the association's funding and manpower.
"We used to have 170 volunteers, but the number has now dropped to 120. A biennial volunteer recruitment program used to attract 300 to 400 people, but now the figure has plummeted to less than 200. Of those, the number of people likely to complete the two-year training program is as low as 30," she said.
Compounding the problem was insufficient financial resources, she said.
"Last year, we lost government funding, which used to average NT$500,000 a year. For a non-profit organization with annual expenses amounting to NT$7 million, it's very hard to operate on one or two donations a month," she said.
Compared with the rate of suicide attempts 32 years ago, Chu said that more and more people are now reaching out for help.
"In the past, society paid little attention to those with suicidal tendencies, and social resources to help them were limited. Things are different now and more people are willing to ask for help," she said.
According to Chu, the organization receives an average of 16,000 phone calls a year seeking counseling, about 0.1 percent of which, or 16, make the call during a suicide attempt. About 12 percent, or about 1,900, say they are intending to commit suicide. The remaining 80 percent call to talk about their personal problems, she said.
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