The The Richmond Fellowship in Macau has reported a growing number of young people seeking help for mental health issues. Through their outreach program, they have also discovered previously unknown cases. Similarly, the Social Welfare Office has observed an increase in the number of young people suffering from emotional difficulties seeking help from their helpline, as cited in a TDM report.
The Richmond Fellowship in Macau provides home visits and support for people with mental illness. With growing demand for their services, the organization expressed a need for more counselors to provide assistance.
The organization not only helps individuals directly, but also offers support and advice to their families and friends, guiding them on how to best help people with mental illness.
In 2023, the two helplines of the Social Welfare Office and Caritas received a total of 11,800 calls for assistance. This number indicates an overall 10% decrease in cases compared to the previous year. However, the increase in young people seeking help is seen as a worrying trend.
Wong Kuan U, a social worker with the organization, explained: “In our program, we regularly visit the homes of people in need. In addition to receiving calls on our hotline, we also identify hidden cases through our awareness activities. We therefore need additional staff because our current workforce is insufficient. » Staff reporter
