suicide hotlines are so useless

[takihorse]

ive been trying to get in touch with 988 all day. nobody picks up the phone when i call. if i text, nobody answers. if i use the online chat function, nobody answers. ive had the windows open for hours in some cases with no response. people always love to say 'oh reach out and ask for help!!11!!1!!' and then i do and nobody fucking answers, not even the organization whose entire purpose is to be asked for help.

 

[SuicideMania]

Recently when thinking about my own suicide I also was thinking about contacting one. It's sad you had to experience that

 

[Off_Switch]

All these hotlines are useless. All they are going to do is ask if you have ideation. If you even remotely indicate that you do, they will send the authorities to find in you. If you don't, then they'll just small talk you to death with nothing that will help.

 

[ctwc]

Tbh as weird as it sounds coming from here, I kinda empathize with the hotline. Given how shitty life has became, and what those hotlines run on, it's no wonder that they don't have the resources sometimes (or often).

Ironically this forum has became one of the best support places I've had.

 

[reloadmyrifle]

I'm sorry that your experiences with your hotline were terrible. Have you looked into other resources?

 

[takihorse]

I'm sorry that your experiences with your hotline were terrible. Have you looked into other resources?

ive undergone various therapeutic treatments and heavy medication for years

 

[My_name_is_Luka]

who is running these services? My feeling is that they are run by volunteers that have little to no training to help people. Admirable on one side, but one should know how to be careful with words.

I once contacted a hotline by email when I was falling into an anxiety period (you know all the tachycardia and stuff) and we had a few exchanges. I've had 2 cases of abuse in the past, health issues and I completely withdrew from socializing with people.
At that time I got even dumped by a person that (insistingly) approached me on social. I finally invited for gym and dinner together. Suddenly out of the blue I got told that I was giving bad feelings and that my invitation was cancelled and was not looking forward to meet me, after telling a recent mistreatment I had from a sex stalker. Got even told "go on and block me". I replied that this behavior was not different than all the other people that mistreated me. And I got blocked.

Well, the hotline worker told me that the person was polite with me and I was being passive aggressive.
I didn't contact them again. This definitely does not sound like what a trained person would tell to someone that is suicidal. Wasted time, I'd rather remain suicidal than be led to become "definitely suicidal".

 

[Pluto]

 

[Egidius]

Unfortunately, that's my experience with helplines as well. Unhelpful at best, actively harmful at worst.

I really have my doubts to the motivation of some of those volunteers, even though I want to believe the majority is in there for the right reasons.

 

[reloadmyrifle]

ive undergone various therapeutic treatments and heavy medication for years

Have those helped so far? Did you switch to a hotline because they were currently unavailable?
I'm always open in pms if you need someone to vent to. :)


Sending much love and guidance for your recovery.

 

[takihorse]

Have those helped so far? Did you switch to a hotline because they were currently unavailable?
I'm always open in pms if you need someone to vent to. :)


Sending much love and guidance for your recovery.

no they have not helped. i am currently not in therapy because its been a waste of time and money and my medication doesnt do anything. i tried to get in touch with a hotline because my friends are sick of hearing about how i want to kill myself

 

[SkeletonFlower96]

Here in brazil i used the text chat, they basically repeat what you say, like:

Example:
me: - I'll kill myself tomorrow
them: - You're making suicide plans...
me: - yeah, i already bought everything.
them: - you're buying something to kill yourself...

the only positive aspect of it is that, as far as i know, they can't track you and send cops to your house.

 

[My_name_is_Luka]

Here in brazil i used the text chat, they basically repeat what you say, like:

Example:
me: - I'll kill myself tomorrow
them: - You're making suicide plans...
me: - yeah, i already bought everything.
them: - you're buying something to kill yourself...

the only positive aspect of it is that, as far as i know, they can't track you and send cops to your house.

ah! it's like if they are employing the "talking cactus" to answer to requests

 

[termination2434]

I thought about calling one of these hotlines before I go look into one of these local psych facilities here. Glad to know they'll just waste your time. I'm so sorry they weren't of any use to you.