Page 27 - Sphere No.25 (Aug 2009)

SPHERE 25
support group services and community education.
With increased manpower and upgraded facilities, the num-
ber of calls handled by the centre has tripled, resulting in more
timely responses to those in need. The centre often refers callers
to other services and professionals such as the police, hospitals
and welfare units for further help and treatment.
“We get calls from people of all sorts of different ages and
backgrounds but the majority of our cases are about marital
relationships, especially affairs,” said Ms Lai. “The financial cri-
sis has made things worse for a lot of people. People have more
worries about business failures and debt. When the economy is
bad we get more calls as worries about money also cause more
marital conflicts.
She recalled one particular case the centre had dealt with
recently involving a middle-aged couple who both had small
businesses. The husband ran a factory in Mainland China with
his younger brother and the wife owned a beauty salon.
“Both businesses were forced to close because of the downturn
and the husband found himself in debt and became
depressed,” said Ms Lai. “The wife then discovered
that her mother and sister were seriously ill and she
was also worried about her son, who was dyslectic
and was struggling at school. She also felt the hus-
band’s younger brother should share the responsi-
bility for the debts he was facing.
“The relationship deteriorated and she became
very depressed, so she rang the hotline. We advised
her to come to our centre and discuss her prob-
lems. We then arranged for the husband and wife
to attend a financial management workshop that
also helps to resolve conflicts between couples.
“The fact that they sat down and discussed
their problems helped them to communicate better and the
couple began to show mutual understanding. The marriage
was saved. They were so grateful that they wrote a letter to
thank us. As they have experience of running their own busi-
nesses, the husband and
wife were very impressed
to hear that the services
provided by the centre
were the result of a dona-
tion from a foundation
funded by another busi-
nessman – Li Ka-shing.
Clockwise from left: Hard at
work in the centre’s new
offices; answering a call on
the hotline; problems range
from gambling debts and
business worries to love
affairs and marital discord.
“When people thank us it is the ultimate satisfaction and
keeps the social workers going. It is a difficult job always talk-
ing to depressed, angry people.”
Ms Lai also recalled another case when a suicidal young
woman rang the hotline. After several conversations with a
social worker it emerged that she had been
the victim of sexual abuse when she was a
child. She had told no one and the sense of
shame and anger had festered for years. After
sharing her burden, the woman decided that
life was worth living and the centre was able
to refer her to the appropriate service for fur-
ther counselling.
“This case was an example of how impor-
tant it is to gain the trust of the caller,” said
Ms Lai. “It takes time to build a relationship
so people are willing to talk about things that
have been hidden for a long time. There’s a lot
of shame. This is where the hotline is so good.
People are more willing to talk about sensitive subjects over
the phone especially when they do not have to reveal their
identities. Once we know what the problem is we can refer
people to medical or social services where they can get long-
term help if needed.”
The centre is also subvented by the Social Welfare Depart-
ment, reflecting the benefits of public-private partnerships.
While the Foundation provided financial aid, Mr Li’s compa-
nies supplied technical support on website design, the tele-
phone system and hotline recording.
The overall result is clear – an improved, expanded operation
that can help more people in need of these important services.
PHOTOS: KEITH CHAN
 RT SYSTEM The Caritas hotline is
always there for those in need
By Jon Marsh