I wonder how many were accidents. Phone numbers typing requirements were changed for this, you now need the entire 1 (xxx) xxx-xxxx to dial out in some areas, and if people started a normal call with 988, it could account for the rise in calls.

Fun fact: I turned 50 this past weekend. Born in 1973. And as I’ve realized - that’s an f’ing long time.

Well sure. There are so many variables I don't even know where to start.

Yeah, I've been helped on the hotline and I've had a couple calls that left me feeling more worthless and like pouring a fifth of liquor down my throat was the only help I could get.

Real hit or miss. I honestly don't thing a phone call is going to be enough though without resources and services provided

That's fine for you. But I'm never okay with inaccuracy or sensationalism even in instances where they happen to be innocuous. It's important to demand consistency and truth, even if especially if it refers to something you support.

Honestly, I'm not mad at it this time. Half a million more people teaching out to a suicide and crisis lifeline is a significant amount, regardless of the overall percentage.

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It’s less about the tea and more about finding some thing that your irrational depression is begrudgingly forced to admit might help. For me, I get low fast if my sugar/protein ratio gets way out of whack. When sitting there sure that I will never be happy again I am forced to admit that I have been wrong about this exact scenario before, when in reality I just needed a sandwich.
I’m not sure that many normals can explain that though.

Sadly I tried to call while in crisis recently and got put on hold. I couldn’t stand it being like I was calling my bank or electric company on a never ending hold with god awful music so I hung up. So much for feeling like this is a place to get support; first time call attempt, probably would never call again. Could have been a different outcome.

Old number: 0118 999 881 999 119 725 3

They just moved the tallies to Covid.

Yes. However, that's not what they do. A lot of times your literally faced with someone who probably has had no training, has some information in front of them, and is just doing it like it's a call center job. Long term care and proper resources are needed, yes, but the system doesn't do its job effectively. Hell, one time the only reason I stopped to consider things was because I was laughing at the genuine advice given to me by someone with no clue what they were doing. This was in my teens and I knew better and just hung up. A lot of people who have had to use the service have been failed by it and ultimately it doesn't do what it should. There are other crisis hotlines and I always advise using them instead.

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How can I get a job attending these calls?

Nothing about Nuclear Fusion?

Looks like a great opportunity for AI.

Yeah. In suicide watch, apparently as people start to improve, it may at first increase risk of suicide. Thats because they finally have motivation and energy to end it all. Which is...dark.

This is not as terrible as it may seem on the surface. The hotline is meant to mitigate immediate loss of life. The first things they assess are intent, means, and urgency. The majority of people who are suicidal have a momentary impulse that will pass if you can distract them long enough to break the script. It doesn't cure depression or suicidal ideation. From there, long term care is needed.

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That is significant... wow

wtf “drink some hot tea” is maybe the worst advice i’ve ever seen

i’ve actually had a good experience with it but i think NYC has their own separate hotline from the national one, i doubt they differ much though

1, 4 and 10 are huge! Great post. Thanks:)

Any amount of effort when depressed is hard. Seek therapy it’s the only true help

This increase is both good and bad. Unfortunately the suicide hotline doesn't seem to have enough people, or people who really care. It's an unfortunately pathetic attempt at helping people and I have personal tales and stories from friends where the help provided is just ridiculous. Things from "just drink some hot tea" to "don't do it", the whole system needs a rework and the people doing this need better care and training.

Maybe many people didn't make it to dail the old 10.. digits?