A 24-hour suicide hotline that first came into operation in Shanghai was formally launched in five new locations on Tuesday to cater to a growing demand.

The hotline, which changed its number last month to 400-161-9995, was launched at the end of 2012 by nonprofit organization the Life Education and Crisis Intervention Center.

From January to November the hotline received 2,941 calls.

Nearly 40 percent of its callers were from outside the city.

Services are now available in Beijing, Shenzhen, as well as in Henan, Hebei and Jilin provinces. A total of 1,000 volunteers are working with the hotline services.

Unlike other suicide hotlines, this offers late-night and early-morning services, peak times for distress calls.