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Top post on HN discouraging use of suicide prevention hotlines. The fuck is wrong with you people.

by varjag 5y ago

Clubber 5y ago
People need to know what could happen when they call that hotline. I'm guessing people think it goes something like this: "I'm feeling suicidal, let me call the hotline." "I called the hotline and now I feel better, everything's great." In reality, at least in the US, it could be like this and this is codified in law (Duty to Warn): "I'm feeling suicidal, let me call the hotline." "We've notified law enforcement. The police are on their way." I'm guessing the reason it isn't always done the 2nd way is because actual therapists know how bad this can be to the patient. Realize therapists are taking a legal risk in not reporting. In the US, the only tool government has for most problems is, "call law enforcement." The only tool law enforcement has it, "take them to jail." If you do some research, you come to realize what a bad tool that can be. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_legislation#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_legislation#United_Sta... If it were me, I would call a professional therapist before calling a government hotline in the US. This is not medical or legal advice.
- varjag 5y ago
  None of the outcomes listed are worse than the actual suicide. Afraid CPS will take your kids away? Well guess who goes to the orphanage if you bloody off yourself!
  - Clubber 5y ago
    Yes but if someone were contemplating it and they are looking for someone to help them off the edge (which is the purpose of the hotline), all these things would probably have the opposite effect. Going to jail is probably better if suicide was inevitable, but if it's inevitable, a person probably wouldn't be calling the hotline. I think if the hotline was anonymous and untraceable and directly connected a person to a therapist who specialized in that sort of thing with no strings attached, it would be an invaluable tool. Unfortunately it is not that. It certainly could be.
  - yupper32 5y ago
    > None of the outcomes listed are worse than the actual suicide. This is 1000% missing the point. They've already decided that being dead is better than being alive with their current life situation. And you're saying they should voluntarily make their lives worse? Can you imagine: You're at rock bottom, thinking about taking your life. Then someone comes along and says "Hey what if you don't and we lock you up and take your kids. Want to live now?" Do you see how ridiculous that sounds?
    - varjag 5y ago
      That's exactly what the poster goes. Spreading FUD to dissuade people contact suicide hotline. Not every contrarian take makes sense even if it blows your mind on the first reading.
      - yupper32 5y ago
        Do you think people deserve to know that the police may be called on them if they call a hotline? Do you think that people deserve to know that they can be involuntarily held if someone even thinks they're going to kill themselves? I'd rather make this known and push for laws to be changed. Because I'm telling you that a massive number of people don't reach out to people because of these (real, valid) fears.
        varjag 5y ago
        All of that is patently untrue in jurisdiction I live. Suicide hotlines are anonymous here. Even if it's true in the United States, it may or may not be as severe as the OP suggested. Could depend on the state or county or whatever. The OP write with position of authority that he lacks on a subject that is literally life or death.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

Top post on HN discouraging use of suicide prevention hotlines. The fuck is wrong with you people.

by varjag 5y ago

Top post on HN discouraging use of suicide prevention hotlines. The fuck is wrong with you people.

People need to know what could happen when they call that hotline. I'm guessing people think it goes something like this: "I'm feeling suicidal, let me call the hotline." "I called the hotline and now I feel better, everything's great." In reality, at least in the US, it could be like this and this is codified in law (Duty to Warn): "I'm feeling suicidal, let me call the hotline." "We've notified law enforcement. The police are on their way." I'm guessing the reason it isn't always done the 2nd way is because actual therapists know how bad this can be to the patient. Realize therapists are taking a legal risk in not reporting. In the US, the only tool government has for most problems is, "call law enforcement." The only tool law enforcement has it, "take them to jail." If you do some research, you come to realize what a bad tool that can be. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_legislation#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_legislation#United_Sta... If it were me, I would call a professional therapist before calling a government hotline in the US. This is not medical or legal advice.

varjag 5y ago
None of the outcomes listed are worse than the actual suicide. Afraid CPS will take your kids away? Well guess who goes to the orphanage if you bloody off yourself!
- Clubber 5y ago
  Yes but if someone were contemplating it and they are looking for someone to help them off the edge (which is the purpose of the hotline), all these things would probably have the opposite effect. Going to jail is probably better if suicide was inevitable, but if it's inevitable, a person probably wouldn't be calling the hotline. I think if the hotline was anonymous and untraceable and directly connected a person to a therapist who specialized in that sort of thing with no strings attached, it would be an invaluable tool. Unfortunately it is not that. It certainly could be.
- yupper32 5y ago
  > None of the outcomes listed are worse than the actual suicide. This is 1000% missing the point. They've already decided that being dead is better than being alive with their current life situation. And you're saying they should voluntarily make their lives worse? Can you imagine: You're at rock bottom, thinking about taking your life. Then someone comes along and says "Hey what if you don't and we lock you up and take your kids. Want to live now?" Do you see how ridiculous that sounds?
  - varjag 5y ago
    That's exactly what the poster goes. Spreading FUD to dissuade people contact suicide hotline. Not every contrarian take makes sense even if it blows your mind on the first reading.
    - yupper32 5y ago
      Do you think people deserve to know that the police may be called on them if they call a hotline? Do you think that people deserve to know that they can be involuntarily held if someone even thinks they're going to kill themselves? I'd rather make this known and push for laws to be changed. Because I'm telling you that a massive number of people don't reach out to people because of these (real, valid) fears.
      - varjag 5y ago
        All of that is patently untrue in jurisdiction I live. Suicide hotlines are anonymous here. Even if it's true in the United States, it may or may not be as severe as the OP suggested. Could depend on the state or county or whatever. The OP write with position of authority that he lacks on a subject that is literally life or death.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]