Venting I can’t trust crisis lines

[rm6888]

About three weeks ago, I called the US crisis line (988) because I was in a crisis regarding someone I met at the psych hospital the last time I went in August and how they were violating me; I wanted to get a restraining order against them. I wasn't even actively suicidal then, but I told them about my history of SI and psychotic episodes which led the counselor to call the police to do a welfare check without my consent. When they started knocking at my door, I was not in a good state and couldn't explain myself very well because of my crying. I knew they were going to take me to the hospital, and it was freaking me out. The police didn't handcuff me this time, but they pat me down in front of everyone around me and it was extremely humiliating. By the time I got to the hospital, it was around 10:30 PM, and I didn't get admitted to the unit until 5:30 in the morning. Luckily, the hospital only kept me for a day and a half, but it was still just a huge misunderstanding that makes me reluctant to call 988 ever again.

The crisis counselor was also just very redundant in the questions she asked. For example, I'd say that I wish I were dead, and then she would ask me right after if I'm having passive suicidal thoughts. I don't know what to do when I'm actively suicidal at this point, and it makes me think that I will actually go ahead and CTB if I don't talk to someone before then.

 

[whyidon'tknow]

Sometimes calling crisis hotline feelings like being on a crisis conveyor belt. They have to follow a script without any real empathy or connection. Im sorry you had that experience

 

[telekon]

Cautionary tale... I'm sorry that happened to you.

988 can suck it so hard.

 

[nitrogenous]

I'm sorry you had this experience. I also have had several episodes where crisis lines ended up calling the paramedics and/or police. One time, they even made up lies that I had done something to myself when I hadn't, which caused people to think that I'm just being manipulative and lying to them. Crisis lines sometimes can still be helpful, but it's like a lottery at this point; it really depends on who we get on the other line… and as you probably know, more often than not they are volunteers without prior experience (education wise or even lived/living experience wise), hence why they lack empathy and don't handle people in crisis well.

 

[rm6888]

I'm sorry you had this experience. I also have had several episodes where crisis lines ended up calling the paramedics and/or police. One time, they even made up lies that I had done something to myself when I hadn't, which caused people to think that I'm just being manipulative and lying to them. Crisis lines sometimes can still be helpful, but it's like a lottery at this point; it really depends on who we get on the other line… and as you probably know, more often than not they are volunteers without prior experience (education wise or even lived/living experience wise), hence why they lack empathy and don't handle people in crisis well.

Yeah, it's truly a hit or miss when it comes to these. I'm sorry you've had similar experiences :/ I understand they want to err on the side of caution, but at the same time, some transparency and active listening would be nice at the very least. The text lines are even worse imo

 

[fadedghost]

About three weeks ago, I called the US crisis line (988) because I was in a crisis regarding someone I met at the psych hospital the last time I went in August and how they were violating me; I wanted to get a restraining order against them. I wasn't even actively suicidal then, but I told them about my history of SI and psychotic episodes which led the counselor to call the police to do a welfare check without my consent. When they started knocking at my door, I was not in a good state and couldn't explain myself very well because of my crying. I knew they were going to take me to the hospital, and it was freaking me out. The police didn't handcuff me this time, but they pat me down in front of everyone around me and it was extremely humiliating. By the time I got to the hospital, it was around 10:30 PM, and I didn't get admitted to the unit until 5:30 in the morning. Luckily, the hospital only kept me for a day and a half, but it was still just a huge misunderstanding that makes me reluctant to call 988 ever again.

The crisis counselor was also just very redundant in the questions she asked. For example, I'd say that I wish I were dead, and then she would ask me right after if I'm having passive suicidal thoughts. I don't know what to do when I'm actively suicidal at this point, and it makes me think that I will actually go ahead and CTB if I don't talk to someone before then.

Friends don't let friends call 988. It's all bad.

 

[charlavail]

988 sucks, I have a friend who got i think the 1 person in all of the USA who cares about people because I've called them 4 times and every time I want to punch a wall with how unhelpful and apathetic these people are. like, why tf would you sign up for this if you don't care?

 

[a-lien]

that's so weird, how did it come, that they can send someone, and knowing adress... so they know your number when you call ?

here it's not like this... this would never happen ( I think lol... they dodn't even take people serioius enough and it's kind of anonymous.)
But I also stop calling years ago, because they makes me feel worse, very often... they is only a 1% chance, of not feeling worse and to talk to someone kind...

 

[BradGuy123]

I wondered if people who call that 988 number get reported to police and having a welfare check done on them. That answers my question. Thanks for posting and I'm sorry that happened to you.

 

[rm6888]

that's so weird, how did it come, that they can send someone, and knowing adress... so they know your number when you call ?

here it's not like this... this would never happen ( I think lol... they dodn't even take people serioius enough and it's kind of anonymous.)
But I also stop calling years ago, because they makes me feel worse, very often... they is only a 1% chance, of not feeling worse and to talk to someone kind...

988 claims to be "anonymous" and "confidential," but in emergency situations (which the counselor deemed my situation to be), they can georoute (using cell towers) your phone number and area code, sending it to local law enforcement I also didn't share any identifiable information, including my first or last name…

 

[charlavail]

I wondered if people who call that 988 number get reported to police and having a welfare check done on them. That answers my question. Thanks for posting and I'm sorry that happened to you.

yeah every time i've called they've asked "have you hurt yourself" "do you have plans to hurt yourself" so whenever i've called (which I'm not doing anymore they're useless) I've always started with "no I haven't and I don't have a plan I'm just struggling with some emotions" which ffs if I have to lie to get support why am I calling?

 

[insectontrial]

I'm really sorry to hear about that. I'm in the UK and our most commonly used crisis line does not automatically involve the authorities unless you are a minor, or you've already given details about yourself and either give them explicit permission to get those services involved, or you become incoherent during the call. I've had hit-and-miss experiences with them myself - some call handlers are happy to just let me offload about my personal circumstances, others are keen to end the conversation quickly and signpost me to lots of unhelpful resources (normally once I've disclosed I'm autistic).

 

[killdozer]

All they do is ask the big "are you gonna kill yourself" question. No empathy at all from them, just trying to force you to stay alive no matter what because it looks good on them.

Im sorry you had to go through this.

 

[a-lien]

I've heard same things about us..I would be very angry and also scared when something like this happen to me :/ and also never ever call again.

here maybe only when I would be at a famous spot and they are smart enough to realize lol. but not at home...

I called a "not famous number "sometimes, and one person is like "you now tell me your number",
Me: no , never ;)

 

[BradGuy123]

yeah every time i've called they've asked "have you hurt yourself" "do you have plans to hurt yourself" so whenever i've called (which I'm not doing anymore they're useless) I've always started with "no I haven't and I don't have a plan I'm just struggling with some emotions" which ffs if I have to lie to get support why am I calling?

I just asked AI about this. I wanted to cut and paste it here but the response is full of my real first name and my municipality. I don't want to take the chance of missing something when I try to redact all that. Basically it's saying that they try to "calm you down" and "de-escalate" in other words talk the caller out of it. If they determine that the caller has the means in front of them and they are about to act and they can't be talked out of it, yes they will call authorities which is what happened to the OP. When I last went to a therapist I mentioned that I was researching suicide methods if I ever had to CTB one day due to losing my job and not being able to find one for a long time. She quickly asked questions to make sure the threat wasn't imminent. If it had been (as she explained to me when I first went to her) my state's law requires her to break confidentiality and get me help (i.e. stop me.)

 

[CleanGopher]

About three weeks ago, I called the US crisis line (988) because I was in a crisis regarding someone I met at the psych hospital the last time I went in August and how they were violating me; I wanted to get a restraining order against them. I wasn't even actively suicidal then, but I told them about my history of SI and psychotic episodes which led the counselor to call the police to do a welfare check without my consent. When they started knocking at my door, I was not in a good state and couldn't explain myself very well because of my crying. I knew they were going to take me to the hospital, and it was freaking me out. The police didn't handcuff me this time, but they pat me down in front of everyone around me and it was extremely humiliating. By the time I got to the hospital, it was around 10:30 PM, and I didn't get admitted to the unit until 5:30 in the morning. Luckily, the hospital only kept me for a day and a half, but it was still just a huge misunderstanding that makes me reluctant to call 988 ever again.

The crisis counselor was also just very redundant in the questions she asked. For example, I'd say that I wish I were dead, and then she would ask me right after if I'm having passive suicidal thoughts. I don't know what to do when I'm actively suicidal at this point, and it makes me think that I will actually go ahead and CTB if I don't talk to someone before then.

Don't trust anyone

 

[The Dead Line]

I am sorry to say that but most of them are organisations established by the government just to prevent free will. I know some people might find those useful in some circumstances but overall they are designed to keep the slavery system on its feet