Indian Consulate to start psychological counselling services

Dubai, May 9 (UNI) The Indian Consulate here is set to start psychological counselling services on designated days to mitigate the problems of community members, including marital disputes, family issues, problems related to alcoholism or other cases.

The consulate is setting up the counselling centre similar to its existing legal cell that has been operating with 20 voluntary lawyers, who work for it once a week.

Social workers are concerned by the rising number of suicides in Dubai and northern emirates which have gone up to 84 in 2005, compared with 64 in 2003, and 69 in 2004.

Mr K Shamsudeen, who runs an organisation for expat workers, said his organisation is getting more than 20 calls of distress per week. ''Of course, they are not all suicidal but they do need a shoulder to cry on,'' he said.

UNI XC AD HT1417