The tragic circumstances of the deaths of a father, mother and daughter in a Dubai apartment are still under investigation by the authorities but, if friends and neighbours are to be believed, financial troubles led to the sad incident.
This is not the first time that such a tragedy has befallen a family in the UAE and our sympathy goes out to the relatives and friends of the deceased. But this is also a time to reflect on the need for a help line to assist desperate individuals who are driven to the darkest corners by shame, financial worries, depression or other concerns that cloud their minds and skew judgement.
The reality is that for most who live and work in the UAE, there is little in the form of a safety net to support them when things go wrong. Yes, there are many community groups that are ready and willing to help with social assistance or even just an ear to listen.
However, such groups are diverse and unorganised. Perhaps now is the time to consider a single well-publicised help line, able to direct callers of different nationalities or languages to an appropriate support group.
