Has anyone else phoned a suicide hotline?

[Walilamdzi]

I phoned the samaritans about half a year ago and to be honest it was just really weird. I spoke with a nice old man and just wasn't really sure what to say. We had a brief conversation that I don't really remember.

 

[Lush_nova]

I've had them in person 2 weeks or so back. I tuned out after 5mins, lovely ladies but not helpful for me. They kept telling me how I had so much to live for and to think of all the people who loved me. Nope, don't know my situation so let's leave this.

 

[Walilamdzi]

I'm tempted to phone them again at some point but it's hard to really articulate what you want to say. I would just have a calm conversation with them I suppose.

 

[beatenghost]

In 2017 I called my local suicide line. The woman on the other end was so judgmental and just generally horrible. I don't mean this to put anyone else off phoning one, your local one is most likely better. But the woman on the other end of mine just sounded bored out of her mind, when i told her i was going to be on the streets she said "yeah that's really bad" with nothing to add to it. Just a generally horrible person, she sounded quite young and was almost definitely just doing this volunteer position for something to put on her university application

 

[RodgerThat]

They just spew useless platitudes. If a suicide hotline worker can help you, you likely don't have an objective reason to kill yourself.

almost definitely just doing this volunteer position for something to put on her university application

It really pisses me off when people do that kind of thing.

 

[sunny.sativa]

I always appreciate their services but tbh they wouldn't hold very helpful conversations. They would send me "help" (the police showed up to take me to the hospital and wouldn't leave until I went with them) when I just wanted to talk, but when I actually was on the brink of suicide, they'd send me resources like those bullshit "life gets better" quotes.

They're lovely people with big hearts and wholesome intentions, but surely no trained professionals. I guess I'm a little more advanced in the crazies at this point.

 

[memento_mori]

well I called beyond blue (Aus) once, they just put me on hold ... I was having a breakdown and crying back then, after a while it seemed like no one was going to pick up the phone so I just gave up

 

[First loss]

I intend to do it tomorrow, because my country's hotline only works for some time of the day.

 

[SpanishLullaby]

I have a few times over my lifetime. A few times they were useless offering empty platitudes. The last two times the person on the other end was nasty judgmental and sarcastic towards me. It angered me so much I'd never ever call it again in my life and I have a hard time recommending it as a solution for others. That was 7 years ago. Hence now I would rather ctb quietly.

 

[Monster]

Suicide hotlines work for people who need someone to talk to and to calm them down in a heated moment, when their impulse will pass in a bit, and have tons to live for still but have the desire to die because of something that happened.
They're not for chronically suicidal people.

 

[WinterIsComing]

I tried...the line was off....well third world things but it seems that in other countries the service is also trashy

 

[Abel]

I've never tried. I just don't really see the point... talking to someone on the phone isn't going to make any of my problems go away.

Also, I'm paranoid that if I ever did call, they'd dispatch police to my location or something. Fuck involuntary commitment, I've only ever been treated like shit in those situations.

 

[ExitTheDay]

Never in my life and I never plan on it, I feel like it you gave them too much information and slipped up about hurting yourself they would go to great lengths to try and admit you, but that's just me and my paranoia of mental hospitals

 

[Severen]

No because in most cases, they will just call the police on you so you can be forced to go into a psych ward. And I think the only people, actually qualified to talk to people who need help are people who have dealt with that kind of stuff in the past. Because otherwise, you are going to have people who don't know what to do and don't know what to say. Because they have no real experience. That is why, I can't stand those dumb ass social workers, who have never actually been through the shit, the people they are trying to help are going through. Another reason, why I hate cronyism.

 

[Rex2019]

I phoned the samaritans about half a year ago and to be honest it was just really weird. I spoke with a nice old man and just wasn't really sure what to say. We had a brief conversation that I don't really remember.

I once tried to do chat but they said they would track my ip address and would call the authorities if they felt I was suicidal so I hung up. But people here have told me hotlines could call authorities and also that in such cases, it could go on your record and could cause problems later in situations like getting jobs/insurance. Just fyi.

 

[TAW122]

I never have and never will. It is simply too risky and with all the anti-choice majority in the world, it would do more harm than good.

 

[OpheliasFlowers]

I did a couple times about 5 years ago, once was the day after my mom died and I felt on the brink and so alone. That time and the other time were not-great experiences -- just rather short, meaningless platitudes and telling me to go to the ER if I felt like I needed to. I'd already had my first psych ward stay by that point and so I wasn't interested in going back in there nor even going to the ER, which is why I called the hotline in the first place. I thought just having a caring voice talk to me for awhile would help to calm me a bit or center me. Not the case though. Both times the person on the other end sounded very young, very disinterested and almost like they were following a script once they established I wasn't in imminent danger of hurting myself. The calls left me feeling very empty and even more alone. Sometimes when things are really, really, REALLY bad I consider calling out of desperation, but I never actually have again. I'm glad if calling helps others though, that's a good thing and so I do think hotlines can be helpful if you get a person on the other end who is truly compassionate and truly LISTENS. Hasn't been my experience though, sadly.

 

[tiredandhuddledmass]

If you do want to call, call the Samaritans in New York, they offer anonymity so can't call services on you unless you tell them where you are. They're available 24hrs and you can call from any country in the world. +1 212 673 3000

If you're concerned about being admitted you can always call via skype/vpn

 

[PatKat]

I use to be a Crisis Counselor for Crisis Text Line actually. Partly wanted to help people that wanted help, and the other part I wanted to learn the workings and what calls for an active rescue of people.

 

[Xaphous]

Phoned them once and they didn't give a fuck about my issues. Could barely verbalize anything because I don't even get to have one conversation a year.

 

[Severen]

Phoned them once and they didn't give a fuck about my issues. Could barely verbalize anything because I don't even get to have one conversation a year.

Calling the cops on you, wouldn't have helped either.

 

[Xaphous]

Calling the cops on you, wouldn't have helped either.

fuck them