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Enhanced support service for people with emotional problems in financial crisis
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     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will inject additional funding of $1.2 million into the CEASE Crisis Centre and the Family Crisis Support Centre to strengthen support services for people with emotional and family problems arising from personal financial crisis amid the recent global financial turmoil.

     A SWD spokesman said today (October 10): ˇ§Like other economies, Hong Kong is being affected by the global financial turmoil to a certain extent. Some people may face personal financial crisis as a result of investment failure and unemployment as well as difficulties with their emotions, family relationship, and accommodation, etc.ˇ¨

     "To address their needs, the CEASE Crisis Centre operated by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Family Crisis Support Centre operated by Caritas ˇV Hong Kong will each be allocated an additional $600,000 to set up a Financial Crisis Emotional Support Hotline to provide counselling service. The hotlines will be manned by registered social workers around the clock.

     "In addition, social workers will provide face-to-face counselling and organise support groups to help individuals and families with emotional or family problems arising from personal financial crisis by strengthening their skills in coping with stress and working out positive ways to manage their problems.  Where necessary, social workers will also refer cases to appropriate welfare services for follow-up.ˇ¨

     People experiencing emotional or family problems due to personal financial crisis are encouraged to call the Financial Crisis Emotional Support Hotline of the CEASE Crisis Centre at 2454 8800 or the Family Crisis Support Centre at 3162 3030 for assistance. The hotlines will commence operation on Monday (October 13) at 9am.

Ends/Friday, October 10, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:01

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