KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA: A growing number of men are calling the city's Befrienders helpline set up 14 months ago.
Most called to talk about work, parental problems and other issues which stressed them out, Kota Kinabalu Befrienders chairperson Datin Siti Rubiah Abd Samad said.
"We are receiving more male callers perhaps because women find it easier to share their problems with their families.
"Men are supposed to be strong. So, they may find it difficult to relate their problems to others.
"By calling Befrienders, they can express their problems anonymously.
"We do not ask them their names and maybe men find it easier to express their feelings this way."
Siti Rubiah said the centre, which was started 38 years after the one in Kuala Lumpur, received an average of four calls during the three-hour period when volunteers were on duty during weekdays.
The centre has 17 volunteers.
"In Asian society, people tend to be reserved about their emotions and so this is why you sometimes have people who are depressed.
"We just want to provide support to them.
"At times, people are in a fragile state of mind, so we lend an ear to them.
"We listen and talk to a caller until they feel better and are able to make positive decisions."
