[HD7970GHZ]

Hi guys and gals,

So I estimate that I have called the distress center in my local city about 150 times this past year and a half. They have kept me alive. Recently I began calling a distress center in a different city. I believe they are run by a different organization, so their policies are a little different.

Here's the problem...

Today I called into this alternative distress center at this other city for the third or fourth time. After talking for a few minutes the male volunteer asked me if I had called into their line before to talk about the same issues. The answer was yes: I had indeed talked about the same issue on their line in a prior phone call. He immediately said that he couldn't help me because it didn't fit inside their scope and suggested giving me outside referrals and ending the call...

This baffled me, my response was that it was the only 24 hour crisis hotline in that particular city and so I began asking questions.

Apparently they consider themselves a, "short term," service and if someone calls in (with the same problem more than once) they can no longer talk because it is then considered a, "long term service."

Is it just me or does that seem strange? Someone who struggles with suicide usually has a reason and if they can only talk about the reason - one time - doesn't that defeat the purpose of a suicide hotline? Surely traumas don't just go away... Do they really expect people not to talk about their issues ever again? A suicide hotline is often times the LAST RESORT - aren't they supposed to listen?

Upon asking more questions, their rationale (from my understanding) is: because they have already given a caller suggestions and a list of coping mechanisms to deal with the particular issues a caller has previously shared: they are expected to utilize those coping mechanisms since the coping mechanisms are enough for them to cope on their own and thus: they no longer need to call into the distress center...

Am I crazy to question this...?

My understanding is that they have a limited amount of resources and tons of callers and fair enough: that cannot be forgotten. I'm sure some people abuse the service too. But that is just not the way to deal with people who call into a suicide hotline, especially if they are repeated callers!

If anyone is interested in calling them yourself - private message me for the phone number and you can ask about it yourself next time you feel the need to call someone for help.

What do you all think about this? Are all distress hotlines like this? I know the one in my city would never say that!

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

[splitimage]

Hotlines are all different in their mandates and policies regarding repeat callers. The other line you called and had the problem with might have been more of a referral service rather than a crisis or warm line.

I volunteer with my city's main suicide crisis line, but we also provide emotional support and connection to our regular callers, most of whom are just socially isolated. We have some callers who literally call every day just to talk. We have guidelines for handling those calls, ie - try to keep them to 20 min or so, but if it's a slow day, I often go over that.

The only time we'd tell someone we can't talk to them, if they've called multiple times in the same day, and are just rehashing the same stuff, in which case, we'd gently suggest that they call back tomorrow.

splitimage

[HD7970GHZ]

Thank you for the reply.

Are you in therapy or on anti-deressants?

Do you consider yourself to be suicidal 150 times year? I am asking because that seems like a lot.

I am not suggesting that you are not in need, but maybe there are other resources that can help you.

[black-roses]

Wow I have no idea what to say to that but based on his limited knowledge on trauma and its affects I am guessing he is fairly new at the job. To be honest trauma's like that don't go away once you talk about it or the second time even. Some traumas can go on for year without any end or hope in site. I am fairly sure he doesn't know what he's talking about a list of coping mechanisms? You would think that someone in the mental health system would have more of a clue and assistance to help someone in that state. Honestly, how can you call them saying you wanna off yourself and then they don't even call you the day later with a care plan on how to help you... Honestly I am confused what are they there for if they can't help you when in distress?

[HD7970GHZ]

Thanks for replies,

I should say that a manager from this particular hotline called me back and listened intently to what I had to say. They even said they would alter their training regimen to provide a more supportive environment, because the way I was dealt with is not ideal. The last thing anyone wants to hear when calling a distress line, is that they cannot listen if the information has already been shared... Doesn't matter if they aren't funded enough or have enough volunteers - when someone is calling a distress center - most times they need someone to listen. It defeats the point of the line if there are stipulations with what is considered distress, when distress is subjective and unique to every caller.

---------------------------------

Are you in therapy or on anti-deressants?

Do you consider yourself to be suicidal 150 times year? I am asking because that seems like a lot.

I am not suggesting that you are not in need, but maybe there are other resources that can help you.

No I am not on medications. And yes - I have absolutely felt ready to off myself daily since the trauma started... The trauma has happened multiple times. Everyday is a struggle to stay alive, so I definitely need the services available.

------------------------

Wow I have no idea what to say to that but based on his limited knowledge on trauma and its affects I am guessing he is fairly new at the job. To be honest trauma's like that don't go away once you talk about it or the second time even. Some traumas can go on for year without any end or hope in site. I am fairly sure he doesn't know what he's talking about a list of coping mechanisms? You would think that someone in the mental health system would have more of a clue and assistance to help someone in that state. Honestly, how can you call them saying you wanna off yourself and then they don't even call you the day later with a care plan on how to help you... Honestly I am confused what are they there for if they can't help you when in distress?

The other resources would be therapy. Since my trauma has to do with unethical therapists and healthcare professionals it makes it difficult to go back to therapy, so utilizing crisis helplines is essential in my case. Even thinking about going back to therapy is extremely scary despite the fact that I know I need help in a therapeutic setting to deal with the trauma... I am making strides slowly but surely.

Thanks,
HD

[Nammu]

I'm confused. If the hotline in your city has been doing so well why call one in another city. If their resources are then it doesn't make sense to me that you would call them when you already have a hot line in your city that is working. Seems to me they were completely right to conserve their resources.

[HD7970GHZ]

Because I called so many times over the span of one year I was beginning to burn them out. They still allow me to call but I felt ashamed for calling so often. It lightens the load too on my cities line.

I dont understand the original trauma.

[HD7970GHZ]

Hey Valentina,

I threatened a lawsuit because some healthcare professionals maliciously wrote lies in my charts to have be barred from the treatment I need. I was mistreated because of those lies. Those documents were altered after I seen them. They damaged my credibility to defend their illegal activities. They all protected one another and continued to play games with me. This not only happened in public healthcare but also private.

They are guilty of SO many crimes and SO much unethical behavior I don't even know where to start. I have another post that explains the trauma in more detail in the same sub-forum. The thread is here:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/other...re-system.html

Thanks,
HD