LIFELINE Shanghai is celebrating its one-year anniversary with new objectives identified for the year ahead.

LifeLine is an English-speaking telephone service providing free support and information, mainly for Shanghai's expat community.

"One big change that will happen this year is that we want to make it known in the community that you can call us for small needs," said Kendra B DiPaola, the chairwoman of the organization's board of governors.

"During our first year, people thought they had to be on the verge of suicide to call. Certainly if you are having extreme difficulty you should call us. But you can also call us to find where to buy something in Shanghai."

LifeLine Shanghai is reaching out to other expat community groups such as the Shanghai Expat Association and community groups based on nationality.

"So ideally we will really represent all nationalities. We don't want to be just Australian or just British. We want to diversify as much as possible," said DiPaola.

LifeLine is training 30 more volunteers to bring the total number of volunteers to around 80, said Jacqueline Streit, the executive director.

Founded in March 2004, the call centre logged up to 1,000 calls in its first year, said Streit.

Work stress, relationships and alcohol abuse were the three top issues callers face. English-speaking Chinese accounted for about 15 per cent of all callers.

"I suppose there is some safety in speaking English and talking about issues not so comfortably discussed in a Chinese culture," said Victoria Hine, founder and the former director of LifeLine.

LifeLine Shanghai is affiliated with and accredited by LifeLine International, funded in part by the World Health Organization. The worldwide organization has representation in 22 countries and a corps of volunteers totalling more than

30,000.

In addition to serving as a resource for individual callers, Lifeline Shanghai serves as a reference point for community organizations such as schools, churches, consulates and businesses seeking information about mental health resources in the Shanghai area.

LifeLine Shanghai

10 am-10 pm daily

Tel: (021) 6279-8990