There sure can be a huge variation in the quality of response you get from different local places that are part of the hot-line system. Different places have different philosophies. It's not just the difference between individuals.

One service that operated out of a college near me and seems to mostly use students who volunteer is great. This service is part of the suicide network and also operates as a warm line to provide empathy and referrals for anything at all you might want to talk with someone about. They give you unlimited time and will offer to call you back to check on you. To me this seems like too good to be true, but that's how they are and it seems they just get better and better.

An hour away is a service where the people manning the phones are paid. It is operated by a big healthcare system. They are unbelievably awful. I don't even know where to start. Years ago, when I went through a rough time, I was on the phone to them a number of times. The guy who seems to be the supervisor actually hit on me once telling me that he works out, is well built and could meet me for coffee. If you have trouble believing this, so do I. It has helped me to be a lot more open minded toward others when I hear what sound like preposterous things. His second-in-command is this sarcastic, impatient woman. I better not go on.

I think you have to protect yourself emotionally. If the person taking your call doesn't seem appropriate, I think it's best to get off the phone before you just get more upset. If you wait and call a few hours later, you are apt to get a different person, who might be a lot better to talk with . . . or not.