What really happens if you call the suicide hotline? I probably won’t call, but I’m curious to see what would happen if I chickened out of it. Do they call the police, your parents, what? I want to know everything. Yeah, I like to learn about everything
And what would the police do.
3 comments
If you express plans to commit suicide they’re obligated to contact emergency services. Other than that, you should be able to vent and get advice from them
Hi Kallian,
Personally, I have never had any interest in contacting the suicide hotline. Suicide and depression are usually symptoms of a much deeper problems, problems that they can’t solve in the time that they have on the phone with you. So they try to treat the symptom rather than the underlying problem. They will generally try to shame you out of suicidal thoughts. And yes, if they feel that you will act on your thoughts they will call the authorities. It is an extra option on the table, but not one that I would utilize.
Here is a link to a story that should give you an idea of what goes on with audio from calls:
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/28/168070269/suicide-hotline-fights-to-keep-vets-and-troops-alive
As soon as you enter the number your location will be sent to the police. They will contact your nearest Happy House, and it will deploy one of its armored vehicles (you’ve probably seen them; during the day they look like white vans with the words “Carnation Milk” on the sides) and it will come to your house. They are not police so they cannot carry guns, but they have these long stick things with loops at the end to get around your neck and drag you into the car. After that they will take you back to the Happy House and rehabilitate you with SSRI’s.
*I worked at the Clarksville TN Happy House for 7 years. It was the first one opened after president Roosevelt convinced congress to sign the “Happy House Rehabilitation Plan” in 1934.