(Hong Kong, 11 November 2019) In response to emotional needs of citizens due to social incidents, the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) sets up Psychological Support Hotline from 10:00am to 6:00pm today (11 November). Anyone whose emotion is affected could call the Hotline at 3628 1180 which is handled by Professional Clinical Psychologists and trained Psychological Support Service volunteers of the HKRC. At the same time, citizens could send messages to WhatsApp 5164 5040 and Telegram @hkrcshallwetalk to make appointment for Psychological Support Service and meeting sessions. The above services are conducted in Chinese and English. We reiterate that all service users’ personal information and conversation will be kept confidential.

Clinical psychologist of the HKRC offers members of the public some advices to cope with the emotional influences caused by current events:

• After witnessing or experience some critical incidents, it is common to have emotional impact such as tense, anger, hopelessness, poor appetite, insomnia, loss of momentum to go to work or school or keep thinking of related incidents. Normally, the influences will be lessen with time;
• If troubled by related emotion, try to get some rest and stop reading and watching related information continuously;
• Talk to someone you can trust about your feelings or experiences, so as to share your worries or pressure, and maintain daily routine can help to reduce the stress reactions;
• If stressful reactions persist over a period of time and affect your daily functioning, or when there are thoughts of harming oneself and others, you should seek help immediately from professionals, including family physicians, clinical psychologists or psychiatrists.

The HKRC is deeply concerned about the negative impacts and saddened by the casualties caused by the ongoing social unrest in Hong Kong since mid-June. We urge all parties to stand by the HKRC’s mission to “protect human life, care for the health of the vulnerable and respect human dignity”. We also reiterates that medical needs of the injured should be considered a priority in any circumstance. Medical service providers and their vehicles should be respected and protected, so they may offer their help to assist people with medical needs and save lives. We continue to urge all parties to exercise constraint and stay calm, by adopting humanitarian considerations, seek common ground to resolve the present situation to avoid causing further negative impacts to all parties, especially to those who did not involve in the conflicts directly.

The HKRC adheres to the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and gives priority to the most urgent cases of distress regardless of their background and political stand. We would not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature, in order to gain trust and acceptance from all parties, so that the Red Cross personnel can provide continuous and effective humanitarian services to people from various backgrounds and with different political stands under any circumstances. Since mid-June, the HKRC has been providing first aid and psychological support services to people affected by the social events, and already served over 2,000 people. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and strive to provide appropriate support in response to the needs.

Hong Kong Red Cross Psychological Support Hotline

Hotline: 3628 1180 (Chinese and English speaking)

Service hours: 11 November (Monday), 10:00am - 6:00pm

Hong Kong Red Cross Psychological Support Service "Shall We Talk" (Chinese & English speaking)

WhatsApp: 5164 5040/ Telegram: @hkrcshallwetalk (make appointment for the service)

About the Hong Kong Red Cross

Please visit www.redcross.org.hk for details.

Media Enquiries

Yan Law, Corporate Communications Manager

(+852 2507 7111／+852 9718 9371／ky.law@redcross.org.hk)

Keily To, Assistant Corporate Communications Manager

(+852 2507 7115／+852 6206 7593／keily.to@redcross.org.hk)