A man who has coaxed more than 200 people back from the verge of
suicide has said that his cell phone is always with him in case his
help is ever needed.
Zhao Guangjun first published his phone number in a local
newspaper at the end of 2004, inviting anyone who was feeling
suicidal to call him. Since then it has become known as a "life
hotline."
"I can't ever miss a call," Zhao said. "Someone who is
struggling for their life might need my help at any time."
The 30-year-old real estate agent first got involved in helping
others in 2000, when he joined Guangzhou's volunteer association,
which provides a range of free services to people in need in south
China's Guangdong Province.
Over the past seven years, Zhao said he has spent thousands of
hours and almost all of his savings some 130,000 yuan (about
US$17,000) working as a volunteer.
Indeed, it was only hours after Zhao first publicized his phone
number that he was called on for help.
It was 2 AM and a depressed man said he was deeply hurt and
wanted to kill himself. But before he did, he planned to kill some
strangers with a shotgun to vent his rage.
In a bid to calm the man, Zhao patiently listened to his story.
Twenty-six hours later, he succeeded in talking him out of his
murderous and suicidal plan.
However, that was not the longest call Zhao has ever had to deal
with. His record is three days, during which time he was unable to
eat or sleep.
"Sometimes whether a person lives or dies is just a matter of
time. If a suicidal person feels that someone is there to listen to
them or be with them, they can often overcome their feelings.
That's the role I play," Zhao said.
Although he has no special qualifications or training, Zhao said
he manages to talk people out of committing suicide by sharing life
experiences and even recalling his own painful stories.
After graduating from junior high school, Zhao went through a
bad patch in his life, becoming part of a gang that was involved in
illegal activities. When a close friend killed himself in 1998,
Zhao took it badly, but realized that it was time for him to turn
his own life around.
Not that life has been easy since he opened up the hotline.
His girlfriend of almost three years left him after saying he
was always too busy and too poor, and the stress of his life has
led to him putting on a lot of weight.
"I have had some bitter experiences so I can understand why
people want to end their lives. They need love, friendship and
care. I think it is my responsibility to show them those things,"
Zhao said.
"I don't want anybody else to lose their money, health or a
loved one as I have. But I truly believe that if everyone had the
heart to be a volunteer, the world would be more beautiful place,"
he said.
Today, more than 20 people have joined Zhao in his voluntary
work and a celebration was held recently in Guangzhou to mark his
efforts in helping suicidal and troubled youths.
(China Daily May 15, 2007)