SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY! What would have been your response to this Suicide Hotline volunteer's answer?

Question

I've been suicidal for past month. Failed attempt a couple weeks. Thought I was better, but in early morning hours I was really struggling. I couldn't find the number for a national hotline so I called the one for my state's hotline. (I live in a very backward state, by the way). Told the woman my problem and that I was unable to get in contact with my psychiatrist. Said I was at the end of my rope and I knew I needed help. Her response was this doesn't sound like an emergency. You need prevention instead. Then there was silence as if she didn't know--or care--what else to say. I told her thanks for nothing and hung up. Spent rest of night driving around to try to take my mind off matters. Still shaky today, but doing somewhat better. Eventually I hope to hear from my doctor. Did I overreact? At this point, there is little in my life to keep me going. I'm calm and determined to do what I think needs to be done. Thanks for your advice.

Answer 1

suicide and crisis volunteers are just that volunteers. many agencies require training for their volunteers before they are allowed to answer calls on the hotline. I am sorry that you did not receive the support you needed. the national suicide and crisis number is 1-800-SUICIDE. I had a similar situation in my life. It can be difficult enough to get the courage to call the hotline in the first place let alone be turned away. I would encourage people in a similar situation to call another hotline and take the time to debrief the experience you had with another person. lots of hotline callers will bounce back and forth between different hotlines to get the kind of support they need at the time. so can you. I would also encourage you to call back that hotline, ask to speak with the supervisor. if you give them the day and time of day you first called they can go to a schedule and determine who was on at that time. hopefully they will follow through and address the issue. I applaud your determination.

Answer 2

I'm sorry you're so at odds with yourself right now. I do not agree with what the hotline volunteer told you. Did you tell her you have made an attempt in the recent past? This would have been a giant red flag if I had been the counselor.

You needed help then. It is our responsibility as health care providers to do what's necessary to keep people from harming themselves and others. If I had determined you were, indeed, a threat to yourself, I would have called 911 and gotten you in a safe environment. Keeping you safe is the #1 priority. I don't think the volunteer did that, and I'm sorry.

You deserve to have health care providers who actually help you.

I sincerely wish that you find some meaning in your life. In my opinion, life is good, even when it's shitty...it's a precious gift and much too short.

Hang in there.

Answer 3

It sounds like you are in contact with your doctor, so her response was fine. Don't get into the whole blame thing, looking to get sympathy because of the way others are supposedly treating you. That's BS now, and you have bigger fish to fry. YOU know when it's an "emergency." If it becomes an emergency, you'll go to the EMERGENCY ROOM. That's why it's called that.

It doesn't matter if you're from a "backward state" or not. Forget about insurance, and hotlines, and "the system," and all that. Cut through all the little BS and get the help you need, if it costs you every penny you have. None of that stuff is important compared to YOUR LIFE.

Love, Jack.

Answer 4

Honey you really got a careless woman who has no business working a a suicide prevention clinic. She had no sympathy for you at all. I am sorry that you are feeling so bad. I have been there and I had failed attempts also but thank god that i did fail because I am going to be a grandmother in a few more months. Just remember what I learned God never gives you more than you can handle. It may seem like it at times but trust in the lord. I know some times your plate gets overloaded and I know all about that because I am Bipolar myself and my family has never learned to deal with that and understand how I feel and why I am feeling that way and even my psychiatrist has tried talking to them and they still don't understand. I have had to learn to accept that fact that they will never understand. If you would like to talk to someone if you think that it would help, Instant Message me at [e-mail]
Take care and God Bless you.

Answer 5

I don't think you overreacted - it's sounds like she's in the wrong line of work! Keep your chin up mate. I know life can seem like a real struggle, but try to put things into context. You're here on this earth for such a short space of time. Won't you miss the little things? Like seeing a sunrise, or feeling raindrops on your skin. and gazing at the stars at night. Totally corny I know, but there's also truth in it! Suicide isn't a break and it isn't a decision you can change your mind from. It's forever! Try to draw on your inner strength. If we can all make it through the day, you can too :-)

Answer 6

No her response was cruel and insensitive and....just plain ignorant. I once called a Suicide Hotline and was told by the volunteer that "nobody here really cares (if I am suicidal)....Nice huh? I have sufferred from depression for most of my adult life.
If you feel like you are going to hurt yourself------please go to the emergency room. Also, if you are not on an anti-depressant, you need to talk to a mental health therapist who can refer u to a psychiatrist. Pray to God for comfort. I am feeling very low myself right now. Don't despair. Hang in there. Take it one day at a time.
If you need to talk you can email me at [e-mail]. God Bless.

Answer 7

Please call your doctor again and call the national hot-line, and keep calling. Her answer to you wasn't right but that may have been because you sound too calm and reasonable. Unfortunately not all people can deal with people who talk about suicide and the training isn't always the best but most volunteers really do care. I know people who have been there and driving around really helps to calm them down, you did well.
Please look for something worth while for you clinging to. It may not be much but sometimes the smallest bright spot can grow into something worth living for. It's a hard road back but its worth the effort. Good luck sweetie.

Answer 8

She shouldn't be a volunteer. The purpose of those hotlines are to offer help to anyone who desires it, no matter the severety of the call. She was defunct and you reacted just as I might have... though I would have done a bit more swearing. Just please don't kill yourself, you have more to look forward to than you know. It may look bleak now, but all things get better or worse. It's life, you get the good, and you get the bad, and it's not worth dying over. I battle with suicide too, in march I tried to get myself killed too. Thankfully I am doing better now, and things are starting to look up. So I can honestly say that things can get better. They may get worse before they get better, but believe me they do get better. Anyway, if you are bi-polar I'd suggest talking to your doctor about Lexapro. As for it maybe being major depression only your doctor would know better about it, I'm bi-polar and anti-depressents only mess me up more.

Good luck and god be with you.

Answer 9

That woman was way out of line. I would complain to whatever governing body she has. But then I guess if you are depressed and suicidal then complaining is about the last thing on your mind. Try again and if you get the same woman tell her you would like to speak to another volunteer. You have to reach out to someone, you shouldn't be handling this all on your own. Hope you find an ear to bend, hang in there.

Answer 10

Ummm, something that will make you feel good...Call that hotline back and ask to speak to the licensed counselor on duty. Tell him/her how you called the other night and how ineffective that person was. Regardless if you know their name or not, it will bring light to the situation that they have losers who don't value life and just say anything out of the side of their neck!

You might be able to save the next person's life!