I volunteered for a suicide hotline before and I did not find it triggering. That said, my mental illness hadn't become severe yet.

I used to be a facilitator for a weekly bipolar support group locally and suicide came up from time to time. My mental illness had become severe by then and I didn't find it triggering as to other members' comments.

I'd say give it a try with the hotline and if you feel uncomfortable, then find another way to volunteer elsewhere. We had to undergo a couple of weeks of training before actually taking calls on the suicide hotline...I think trigger may show up during your training period if they are going to appear? I recall a woman who volunteered and found it to be a positive experience...her husband had committed suicide and I thought she was really brave.

That's great you want to volunteer and there are a lot of places that need help. xo