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This is above HN's paygrade. International Suicide Crisis Hotline directory: https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp https://en.wik

This is above HN's paygrade. International Suicide Crisis Hotline directory: https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines If you are posting this kind of message on HN then you're at a point that you can call for a 1-1 chat. There are people who can listen. Don't rely on social media to do this.

Madmallard 4y ago
There's legitimately good advice in this thread.
boppo1 4y ago
I recall that this hotline basically just calls your local authorities and prevents you from being a danger to yourself by having you committed to a mental health facility. Sub-optimal.
- fnord123 4y ago
  If OP is in Germany (they say they studied in the US implying that they are no longer there; and their nick is Deutscher) then https://www.telefonseelsorge.de/telefon/ https://www.telefonseelsorge.de/telefon/ claims to be anonymous.
  - hnbad 4y ago
    If OP is in Germany, I can second this recommendation. They're funded via Christian organizations but as far as I'm aware the hotlines themselves are secular by default so if you're an atheist or non-Christian you don't have to worry about them pushing anything religious on you. Also, given how strict German privacy laws are, their claims of anonymity are as reliable as they can be (caveat: don't confess to any major crimes you have committed as those are usually not covered by privacy laws). The easiest way to access a therapist is to ask your general practitioner (Hausarzt or Allgemeinmediziner) for a referral. You'll still have to find one yourself but they can direct you towards a list. The wait times can be very long but the sessions (and meds if any) are covered by public health insurance.
- athenot 4y ago
  In the US, this is not true. First they will talk you down if there is imminent danger. There are some real skilled people that are good at de-escalation. They might try to get you in touch with any fiends or relatives you may trust, and even conference them into the call with your permission. (I was called by them.) They can also dispatch a team to help calm down any acute episode of severe depression / suicide ideation. They can recommends a voluntary committment to a mental health facility. Involontary committment has certain criteria regarding safety and imminent danger, at which point it would involve the police and they would be the ones making that call. If not a mental health facility, they do recommend getting a psychiatrist ASAP and provide referrals. And they call back a few days to check on the caller, to ensure they followed through and are seeking help. Source: A close relative experienced this first hand.
- ipnon 4y ago
  Mental health facilities are not good for your mental state. If you thought you knew what mental anguish was just wait until you get to the big leagues. They dope you up and you sit around in a sterile hospital bed until you get the hint that you can’t go home until you stop voluntarily reporting symptoms of wanting to self harm.
- cnlwsu 4y ago
  Seems like unnecessary shade to throw on the helpline. There was a viral thing a bit ago making rounds on social media accusing them of it but its far from reality. There are like 50k of 3 million calls a year that result in contacting the authorities, but its extreme scenarios. Its a rare thing and highlighting it as the default scenario is spreading FUD and possibly keeping people from getting the help they need. It is true though that if you call and describe an immediate plan to kill yourself there is some legal, ethical, and liability requirements that mean they will call authorities. Exact same thing if you tell your doctor or therapist.
nonethewiser 4y ago
This comes off more as condescending than helpful.
- seanw444 4y ago
  I've never understood this. If I was suicidal, being given the suicide hotline number as a response would just tick me off.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
meepmorp 4y ago
Being unhappy with how your life is going doesn't equate to being suicidal.
- DMell 4y ago
  > after being scared by my first real suicidal ideation a few nights ago. While there is a lot of validity to asking others about their experience, there is also validity in speaking with a professional.
tgv 4y ago
We're not therapists, but many people don't need therapy: their cry for help doesn't mean they're short on dopamine or have childhood trauma. They're simply destitute. Therapy also isn't a magical bullet: it's not exactly engineering. What we can give is some experience, and heartfelt advice. Perhaps there's something of value in this thread, if not for poor OP, then for another person that feels the weight of expectations on his/her shoulders.
eastbound 4y ago
Ah, suicide hotlines. Ok, he must absolutely do it if he needs. BUT. - For men, they’re underfunded, at least in my country (France). I called them a few times in my life, can’t count the number of times the answering machines were like “We’re open Tuesdays, 7pm-midnight” or “You are the … 7th … in the queue”. Or it’s a hotline for teens. Or it’s a hotline for suicide AND familial violence. - Many suicide hotlines are for women, or designed for women and incapable of dealing with men’s problems. As in “I… I… can’t date” “Well just ask a girl out”. Yeah right, words of a woman, it works for them this way to they project that it must be easy for men. The night I called 7 of them just to get no answer gave me a hit of anger, which was enough to pull me through. I wanted to take revenge for the world not caring enough about us.

Madmallard 4y ago

There's legitimately good advice in this thread.

boppo1 4y ago

I recall that this hotline basically just calls your local authorities and prevents you from being a danger to yourself by having you committed to a mental health facility. Sub-optimal.

fnord123 4y ago
If OP is in Germany (they say they studied in the US implying that they are no longer there; and their nick is Deutscher) then https://www.telefonseelsorge.de/telefon/ https://www.telefonseelsorge.de/telefon/ claims to be anonymous.
- hnbad 4y ago
  If OP is in Germany, I can second this recommendation. They're funded via Christian organizations but as far as I'm aware the hotlines themselves are secular by default so if you're an atheist or non-Christian you don't have to worry about them pushing anything religious on you. Also, given how strict German privacy laws are, their claims of anonymity are as reliable as they can be (caveat: don't confess to any major crimes you have committed as those are usually not covered by privacy laws). The easiest way to access a therapist is to ask your general practitioner (Hausarzt or Allgemeinmediziner) for a referral. You'll still have to find one yourself but they can direct you towards a list. The wait times can be very long but the sessions (and meds if any) are covered by public health insurance.
athenot 4y ago
In the US, this is not true. First they will talk you down if there is imminent danger. There are some real skilled people that are good at de-escalation. They might try to get you in touch with any fiends or relatives you may trust, and even conference them into the call with your permission. (I was called by them.) They can also dispatch a team to help calm down any acute episode of severe depression / suicide ideation. They can recommends a voluntary committment to a mental health facility. Involontary committment has certain criteria regarding safety and imminent danger, at which point it would involve the police and they would be the ones making that call. If not a mental health facility, they do recommend getting a psychiatrist ASAP and provide referrals. And they call back a few days to check on the caller, to ensure they followed through and are seeking help. Source: A close relative experienced this first hand.
ipnon 4y ago
Mental health facilities are not good for your mental state. If you thought you knew what mental anguish was just wait until you get to the big leagues. They dope you up and you sit around in a sterile hospital bed until you get the hint that you can’t go home until you stop voluntarily reporting symptoms of wanting to self harm.
cnlwsu 4y ago
Seems like unnecessary shade to throw on the helpline. There was a viral thing a bit ago making rounds on social media accusing them of it but its far from reality. There are like 50k of 3 million calls a year that result in contacting the authorities, but its extreme scenarios. Its a rare thing and highlighting it as the default scenario is spreading FUD and possibly keeping people from getting the help they need. It is true though that if you call and describe an immediate plan to kill yourself there is some legal, ethical, and liability requirements that mean they will call authorities. Exact same thing if you tell your doctor or therapist.

nonethewiser 4y ago

This comes off more as condescending than helpful.

seanw444 4y ago
I've never understood this. If I was suicidal, being given the suicide hotline number as a response would just tick me off.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

meepmorp 4y ago

Being unhappy with how your life is going doesn't equate to being suicidal.

DMell 4y ago
> after being scared by my first real suicidal ideation a few nights ago. While there is a lot of validity to asking others about their experience, there is also validity in speaking with a professional.

tgv 4y ago

We're not therapists, but many people don't need therapy: their cry for help doesn't mean they're short on dopamine or have childhood trauma. They're simply destitute. Therapy also isn't a magical bullet: it's not exactly engineering. What we can give is some experience, and heartfelt advice. Perhaps there's something of value in this thread, if not for poor OP, then for another person that feels the weight of expectations on his/her shoulders.

eastbound 4y ago

Ah, suicide hotlines. Ok, he must absolutely do it if he needs. BUT. - For men, they’re underfunded, at least in my country (France). I called them a few times in my life, can’t count the number of times the answering machines were like “We’re open Tuesdays, 7pm-midnight” or “You are the … 7th … in the queue”. Or it’s a hotline for teens. Or it’s a hotline for suicide AND familial violence. - Many suicide hotlines are for women, or designed for women and incapable of dealing with men’s problems. As in “I… I… can’t date” “Well just ask a girl out”. Yeah right, words of a woman, it works for them this way to they project that it must be easy for men. The night I called 7 of them just to get no answer gave me a hit of anger, which was enough to pull me through. I wanted to take revenge for the world not caring enough about us.