I texted a crisis hotline last night. I didn't find it helpful.

The girl I was talking to gave me the same scripted response to everything I said: "you're brave, you can do this!" I felt like I was talking to a robot...

I know the girl means well (because she IS a volunteer and DOES care about people's wellbeing), but i felt like I couldn't have a conversation. No matter what I said, I got the same response. (I assume she's trained/instructed to give certain responses, but still.) I felt like I was wasting my time.

I guess I just wanted someone to tell me "I understand" or "what's going through your mind?", not "you're brave for contacting us!" 8 times. I mean, I get that I'm "brave", but reaffirming 8 times seems kinda robotic, no? And of course she was pushing to end the conversation after 15 mins, when the entire time I just wanted to say why I wanted to kill myself...

Are all these hotlines like this?

[Sunflower123]

It sounds like you got someone who is not very good or is just new to it. I've texted a crisis line several times and it's kind of luck of the draw. Still, each conversation usually is enough to stop or slow down my SI. I'm sorry it wasn't helpful to you.

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I texted a crisis hotline last night. I didn't find it helpful.

The girl I was talking to gave me the same scripted response to everything I said: "you're brave, you can do this!" I felt like I was talking to a robot...

I know the girl means well (because she IS a volunteer and DOES care about people's wellbeing), but i felt like I couldn't have a conversation. No matter what I said, I got the same response. (I assume she's trained/instructed to give certain responses, but still.) I felt like I was wasting my time.

I guess I just wanted someone to tell me "I understand" or "what's going through your mind?", not "you're brave for contacting us!" 8 times. I mean, I get that I'm "brave", but reaffirming 8 times seems kinda robotic, no? And of course she was pushing to end the conversation after 15 mins, when the entire time I just wanted to say why I wanted to kill myself...

Are all these hotlines like this?

You're right. I had to call once too. Honestly, I think they do give their operators scripts, because that sounds like a carbon copy of what they said to me. In general, I really don't think that suicide hotlines are helpful because of that reason. Really sad. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

[99fairies]

Blue... I'm so sorry you're still feeling so bad. I hope things start looking up for you soon. thinking of you.Big hugs and stay safe. Would it help if you told us some of the things you wish the hotline would have asked you...like why you are feeling suicidal ect.

[WildcatVet]

Yea...they're not always the greatest...but it's something to DO to take your mind off what you were thinking about. Even if it's annoying it breaks your train of thoughts...

[Cocosurviving]

In my experience they rushed me off the phone. When I lived in Nashville TN I called for the first time ever. The person gave me some phone numbers to call and got me off the phone. I now live in Oklahoma. I’ve called a helpline before. They only want you to call when your suicidal and wanting to go IP. If you say your just wanting to talk and not go IP. They will give you numbers to call if your do not have a doc or tell you to follow-up with your doc.

[~Christina]

I have never called or texted one... So I am clueless.

Every time I call a hotline it's "go to the hospital." Every time.

[*Laurie*]

I've worked a mental health hotline. I was not given a script. Basically, it comes down to whether the person staffing the hotline is gifted at their job, or not.

on the subject of these hotlines, do you know what I hate?

when clearly you're in distress and the operator just rushes you

like, they limit you to like a few minits sometimes just because they have other people to speak too

well.. get more operators?. ask if I can call back at another time?

don't just leave me hanging

I agree with the OP, in general these lines do follow an automated response

most times I come away not feeling any better

i've spoken to I think 1 or 2 people that did offer me hope, (1 even doing a safety plan on the phone), but most of the time it's like calling a machine.

the people behind the desk may be real, but it's still a recording

or something

I have also had some really rude people.

1 informing me that they do not give advice, and 1 saying well.. you've made your decision, that's that, I can't do anything to help you

how do you think that made me feel when I was so close to the edge

[scatterbrained04]

Hey blue, I do not know. I have never called or texted one. But I think this thread just confirmed I'm better off not calling one.

[*Laurie*]

I'm sorry that so many of you have had negative crisis line experiences. I've called them twice or three times & my experience was always good. I don't recall being rushed or negated.

[wildflowerchild25]

I called one once and they just told me to tell my php doctor. Well it was Saturday night and I wasn’t going to php until Monday, hence why I was calling. The person was no help. I ended up hurting myself that night.