Helpline for Seremban launched

Star: Feeling depressed or troubled, then head straight to Befrienders Seremban, which opened its doors recently.
The Seremban chapter will operate five days a week with 13 volunteers offering professional counselling services to those in need of help.
Befrienders was set up to address serious problems like suicide and increasing public health issues.
The Asia Pacific Journal Report notes that the suicide rate for West Malaysia is between eight and 13 per 100,000.
In a study of 76 suicide cases at Kuala Lumpur Hospital in 1999, it was suggested that Malaysians had high suicidal rates among all age groups.
Some of the more common factors include isolation, substance misuse, depression and other psychiatric illnesses.
Befrienders are a committed group of trained volunteers that dedicate their time and energy to help, support and listen to people in crisis.
Consultant Dr Philip George will helm the Seremban Chapter.
Those in need of the service could contact 06-7653588 or 7653589.