Helplines that take no calls at night

SOME psychiatrists are of the view that helplines are critical to helping individuals who need instant counselling at their lowest point. Brunei Darussalam has a few such hotlines, but they are switched off after working hours.

This apparently creates a gap when a person suffering from depression, suicidal tendencies or self-harm are in dire need of anonymous counselling after working hours.

Hjh Nor Muizzah Hj Samat, from Ripas Hospital's Clinical Psychology Unit, said she believes that a 24-hour helpline would help those who need someone to talk to and most importantly, who listens to them.

The patients referred to the unit are usually those who are on the verge of a breakdown resulting from stress. Last year, it had a lot of suicidal cases.

"A lot of people do not come to us, (they're) probably shy. A lot of our patients don't come for appointments. Even if we call, they never (show up)," she said.

Helplines would be a preferable option "because it's anonymous", she said.

She is of the opinion, however, that the responsibility of establishing a helpline for social problems should not be shouldered by the government alone but through a collaboration between public and private institutions concerned.

"An all-in-one general helpline centre should be fine for now," she said as having specific helplines for particular problems is not feasible considering the country's small population.

According to a trained counsellor at the RBAF Counselling Centre, such helplines will be a welcome service.

"It will help individuals who need someone to talk during 'those times'. It will prevent them from self-harm or harming others," he said.

The very act of having someone acknowledging and listening to their problems is said to help dissipate negative emotions and help calm individuals who are at the risk of endangering themselves as well as others.

"There are those who are unaware of the benefits of counselling or what it is all about. They don't know that it can help," he said, adding that although 24-hour helplines provide immediate emotional support, it should not be seen as solutions to the problem.

It would be noted that such helplines have mushroomed in western countries in most of Asia.

Brunei has several emergency three-digit hotline numbers specifically for the police, ambulance and also fire and rescue.

Other government agencies such as the Royal Brunei Counselling Centre established a six-digit helpline the year it began its operation and last year, Brunei saw the Community Development Department's (CDD) setting up its own three-digit helpline service when it introduced the Call 141 targetted at handling reports involving women and children.

Common issues encountered were mostly stress-related, triggered by factors such as financial problems and relationships (marital) abuse, to name a few.

Over the past months CDD has received a lot of "blank, silent and crossline" calls since the launch of its 141 helpline.

A counselling officer at the department said that trained social workers answering silent calls will stay on the line until the caller hangs up.

The Brunei Times