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Comfort in times of trouble

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Homicide, suicide, debt, self-harm, grief, mental problems, family conflict, interpersonal tension, bullying, injustice and anger.

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These are just some of the increasingly complex issues facing professionals - teachers, social workers, pastors, health workers, human resources staff and police - who deal with Hong Kong residents in trouble.

Professor Cecilia Chan Lai-wan, from the department of social work and social administration at the University of Hong Kong, said both the public and policy makers felt the situation was getting out of hand. 'Postgraduate training for human service professionals is absolutely essential to cope more effectively,' Professor Chan said.

'With the increasing complexity of social problems, there are new jobs in counselling for addictive gambling, divorce, domestic violence, suicide prevention and crisis management,' she said.

At least two new postgraduate courses catering to the demand for upgraded qualifications have been launched this year, both of them oversubscribed, and universities are contemplating more in future. Most students take the courses part-time, usually over two years, while working.

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Assistant professor Raymond Chan, from City University's Department of Applied Social Studies, said more than 300 people applied for 60 places in its part-time Master of Social Science in counselling. The course was expanded to accept 90 students.

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