Dessy Sagita

Good Samaritans Set Up Jakarta Suicide Hot Line

Concerned with the alarming number of suicides in the capital, three Jakartans have pooled their own money to set up a Web site and telephone hot line to help those struggling with feelings of suicide.

“We were concerned by the rising trend in the number of suicides and we wanted to think of some way we could help. We are also looking for volunteers to man the hot line as well as the messaging service and the Web site,” said Posma Rolan Simatupang, 44, who launched the service with friends Tiwin Herman, 50, and Harez Sinaga, 44. All three were psychology majors at the University of Indonesia.

The Jakarta Police reported 102 suicides last year.

The Web site, janganbunuhdiri.net, which means “do not commit suicide,” features a blog and a collection of stories and analytical articles focused on suicide in Indonesia.

“We want to use our knowledge to help people solve their problems,” Posma said.

He added that people who wanted a consultation or just to share their stories could send a text message or chat via Yahoo Messenger at janganbunuhdiri@yahoo.com.

“It’s hard to maintain a good conversation via SMS because sometimes people do not reply to our messages. Through instant messaging, the interaction is much better,” Posma said, adding that all three friends were currently working as freelance consultants focused on human resources.

Posma said he expected the hot line — 021 9696 9293 — and the Web site would be able to help people who were experiencing mental problems but were reluctant to seek professional help, either because they felt ashamed or because they could not afford to pay for it.

“Through the hot line and the instant messaging service, we talk to people, we listen to their problems and we try to find the best solution for them,” Posma said.

He said that since the hot line was opened on Wednesday, 10 people had already contacted them by telephone and instant messaging but only one had acknowledged feeling suicidal.

Posma said that he and his friends were moved to set up the hot line after they did a search and realized there was no such service in the city.

According to a 2005 survey by the Wold Health Organization, every year at least 50,000 people across Indonesia commit suicide. The government has yet to set up a dedicated hot line to help those suffering from depression and feelings of suicide.

“I’m not really sure if our hot line is the first. I have found many discussion forums and mailing lists discussing suicide but none really focused on talking directly to the people who are thinking about committing suicide,” Posma said.

He and his friends work in shifts, monitoring the text messages and the instant messaging service as well as speaking to those who ring the hot line.

Irmansyah, head of the psychiatry unit at the state-run Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, said the hot line was a great idea to help people struggling with feelings of suicide.

“In the United States and Australia, people who want to talk to someone about their problems can always call a professional hot line set up by the government,” he said. “We don’t have anything like that here.”

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