Befrienders Kuala Lumpur chief executive Kenny Lim said as things stood, the organisation did not even have enough funds to meet utilities expenses such as telephone bills, salaries for administrative staff, advertising, electricity and water.

“Our building is old and looks like it will fall apart any time. The roof is leaking. We urgently need to upgrade the building but (right now) we are taking out money from our own pockets,” he told FMT.

Budget 2018 saw an increase in allocations for the health ministry to RM26.58 billion from RM25 billion in 2017. However, there was no mention of a special allocation for mental health issues.

Lim voiced concern over this, saying the number of people suffering from depression and anxiety recorded in the 2017 National Health and Morbidity Survey had grown more than two-fold from 12% in 2011 to 29%.

“Right now, we only get RM8,000 from the government each year. Our monthly utilities expenses can sometimes reach RM1,500 and our yearly operating expenses are about RM200,000.

“There are an increasing number of people suffering from mental health illnesses, which is why we would appreciate if the government could allocate more money to fund the maintenance of this building and any upcoming projects,” he said.

He said the NGO had planned to turn its suicide hotline number into a toll-free line so that those who called would not have to worry about phone bills or using prepaid cards.

“Unfortunately, that request was turned down,” he said, adding that his organisation would welcome any help from telecommunications companies.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be free (services). Even a discounted price would do.”

The Befrienders was originally known as the Churches Counseling Centre. It was founded in 1970 by a group desiring to help those who had suffered emotionally after the events of May 13, 1969.

It was renamed as The Befrienders Kuala Lumpur in 1972.