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One thing not discussed yet here is that it also appears to me the National Suicide Hotline isn't even handling their calls correctly. I'm clearly no suicide p
by FilterSweep 10y ago
One thing not discussed yet here is that it also appears to me the National Suicide Hotline isn't even handling their calls correctly.
I'm clearly no suicide prevention expert, but questioning the caller on drug use, repeatedly demanding to put weapons (that are not even present) away, then calling a militant police force upon no response, shows that the Hotline isn't really being the sympathetic role they were initially intended to be.
As bad as this situation has been for veterans, it brings to light how poorly (IMO) they are handling citizens reaching out for help as well.
- Bartweiss 10y agoThis stood out to me as well. The drug use question is a reasonable one, at least in terms of active use. It has a significant impact on how you want to talk to someone, how at-risk they are, and yes, on what the police should be aware of if they're eventually contacted. It shouldn't ever go further if the person doesn't need a police visit, though. Demanding that he "say the guns are down" sounds like stupid and alarming legalism. It strikes me as someone reading a script, unable to deal with an answer of "they were never up to begin with, and are locked away, can we move on". And the whole thing... yes, the police can help with suicides. Yes, someone hanging up without explanation is a bad sign. But you can't fail to help people, then assume they're unstable for hanging up on you, then make wild and unjustified claims to the police.
- mcguire 10y agoIt stood out to me as well. As an initial thought, I would have expected the hotline to operate under the same privacy regulations as any other medical facility. At least in the absence of any warning otherwise.