I worked a crisis hotline once in college as a peer counselor. I really liked it. We were supposed to listen and refer callers to the psychologists or whomever they need to speak to in charge of whatever. If there was a sui call, we were to handle it, talking them down, getting them to get immediate or soon help.

That was a lot of responsibility to place on us. I loved doing that job. I wanted to be a psychologist then.

I’ve noticed colleges don’t have peer counseling like that anymore. I can see how there must have been an event where something bad happened from a peer to peer situation.

We didn’t know who the callers were, 1983. We had to write a report about each call and what was said.

But soon I gave up the idea of being a therapist.

No, I never called a hotline myself. I’m sure now they know where you are calling from and who you are, and can send an ambulance or police, I’d assume.