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Lawmakers Push To Create a Three-Digit Suicide Hotline Number (techcrunch.com)
In a letter addressed to the FCC, Senator Ron Wyden urged commissioners to create a three-digit, 911-style suicide hotline number. The Oregon senator cites the CDC's report that more than 40,000 Americans died by suicide in 2017. From a report: "I write on behalf of those struggling with mental health issues, our veterans struggling with PTSD and for those impacted by the tragedy of suicide," Wyden writes. "I urge you to designate a 3-digit code as a Behavioral Health and Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Thank you for your consideration."
While The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched an 800 line in 2004, many believe the number is too long and cumbersome for those reaching out in their time of need. The letter floats the idea of using 611. The call echoes a similar push last week by Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Chris Stewart to designate the number, which is currently used to report phone service problems by some U.S. and Canadian carriers.
While The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched an 800 line in 2004, many believe the number is too long and cumbersome for those reaching out in their time of need. The letter floats the idea of using 611. The call echoes a similar push last week by Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Chris Stewart to designate the number, which is currently used to report phone service problems by some U.S. and Canadian carriers.
>> Senator Ron Wyden urged commissioners to create a three-digit, 911-style suicide hotline number. (611)
Somehow this will end up being another $3.99 service fee on each of my phone lines. Seriously: just popping up a "don't kill yourself" chatbot would be cheaper and more effective; we need "better than Boomer" thinking on this one.
Sure, assigning a 3-digit number is so much cheaper than providing actual health care for mental disorders or addressing actual causes for suicides (like tasking people to go somewhere and kill people for no good reason).
Maybe this service can even be financed by harvesting the organs of those who called, thus revealed their location, and then leave a corpse that is fresh enough to leave some parts intact. Such efficiency!
911 will already transfer callers to suicide intervention, plus they can handle all of the related emergencies that require additional immediate support: for instance "I've just eaten a bunch of random pills" Every mental health professional in the US already has "If this is an emergency hang up and dial 911" on their voicemail.
There is really no need to go through the expense and other regulatory nonsense necessary to establish a new special emergency dialing number for just because you are a senator. This is the same nonsense that brought us the spectacular failure that is the "Amber Alert"
Yes, it's important. But so long as you have a million different 501c3's vying for dollars to "raise awareness" and promote their own competing solutions the problem is effectively gridlocked. We already have a national emergency line that routes you to a person trained to assist with any emergency. Please use it.
Will it help people to kill themselves as cleanly and painfully as possible? Or is one of those, "People shouldn't have the right to end their life, so let's pretend like we care so they may live another day"? Let's be honest, most people don't want to have to deal with people who are suicidal.
It's not fun. It's not about, "People don't love me". It is about the idea that people who don't have a purpose may want to end their life. It's little wonder vets have that problem when they spend a considerable amount of time being told their purpose. And the elderly often do get to a point where they don't have particular reason to live and would rather give as much of their wealth to their loved ones instead of just burning through it and hoping they die naturally first with possibly lots of suffering along the way.
So, is the goal to help? Or make you feel better about yourself?
Seems like a lawmaker trying to look like he's giving a fuck, but doesn't because he hasn't thought this through at all. We already have enough trouble staffing 911 centers in different parts of the country. Now he wants to make that strain twice as bad, when the existing services aren't so bad now.
Years ago, I had a suicidal friend call me at zero dark thirty. After talking to her for a bit, I told her I was going to call 911 for her, then call her right back. After giving 911 her address/contact information and my contact information, I called her back. Within I want to say 8 minutes, there was someone at her door to make sure she was safe. All people acted professionally, and she got urgent mental health care. How exactly can improve this scenario?
Put another way, I think the senator has absolutely no idea how to handle the suicide rates. If he had spent any time on the ground talking with people, a story like mine should not be uncommon. I'm sure there's parts of the country where my story is rare or non-existent, however, I view that as a job for local governments. Reducing suicide is about solving personal issues that primarily manifest at the local community level. Trying to do anything from the federal level seems foolish and reckless.
You self report that you are a danger to yourself. The cops show up, the mental health experts show up. It is on your medical record for life. Is that what a suicidal person needs is a system that will intervene and never forget? Maybe.
The problem with this is there are a whole lot of folks out there that will never contact anyone as it may be a semi-fleeting thought, but would be very helpful to chat with a person that they know is safe. How many people that have committed suicide called a help line?
As we've left the farms and moved to a life that is boxed in by laws, deadlines, and you better be to work on time, less get fired, people just don't have support systems. People need people, even the people that hate people.
The question should be, how do we foster personal relationships better? How do we help our neighbors? How do the people help each without entering a bureaucracy?
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No one has ever become poor by giving. -- Anne Frank
Calling 611 now connects you to your phone provider's Customer Service line. Dealing with AT&T's billing dept would make me want to kill myself, too.
An actual social safety net?
Lawmakers: Nope!
Medical care that doesn't require the uninsured to go further into debt or bankruptcy if they get sick?
Lawmakers: Ha ha ha ha ha no.
Help with that depressing student debt?
Lawmakers: Nope!
Better living standards for the next generation?
Lawmakers: Nope!
Renewable green energy that's already less expensive than fossil fuels and which might save the planet for future generations?
Lawmakers: We really like our coal...
Some help for the homeless?
Lawmakers: Uh-uh.
Prozac in the water supply?
Lawmakers: Uh... we'll get back to you on that... But in the mean time, how about a nice 3 digit suicide prevention number?
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Show of hands of who thinks you'll end up on a list if you dare call a suicide hotline ?
Think it might come back to haunt you years down the road ?
( Want to take a guess why so many Veterans don't ask for help ? Hint: See Above )
Maybe we should start looking hard at the WHY behind things.
WHY are suicides happening ?
WHY are mass shootings happening ?
WHY are so many depressed or angry to the point of suicide or homicide ?
Wonder if it has anything to do with a mediocre economy, pathetic job market, stagnant wages,
income inequality, non-stop military conflicts / wars, totally useless / lying leadership for the past several
decades, the voting system being a total joke, government spying, etc. etc. This list can go on forever.
The short version: There isn't a whole lot to be happy about in America these days.
Fix the why and you'll solve a lot of issues at once.
If someone suicidal has managed to reach out, you don't want them hanging up because the respondent isn't trained to deal with them.
You have no idea what training 911 call center operators get, do you? They do a lot more than just dispatch cops. They are routinely credited with talking a panicky caller through dealing with an emergency situation. Dealing with suicide threats is just one of those emergency situations. (At the end of term I hear regular radio traffic dealing with such things.)
but if that's all they're going to do, may as well go directly to the experts.
That's not all they're going to do. If the caller needs medical attention they'll get it headed there. If the caller needs police action, they'll get that going, too. (E.g., Joe calls up saying he's suicidal and has a gun. Police go first to clear the area, then meds go in to deal with Joe.)
And, of course, centralizing emergency response in ONE number means you don't have to remember more than one. Plus you don't need to change an entire system built on the premise that the number being suggested is how you get help with phone service, not with suicides.
Imagine the fun and wasted time and money and interference with a true emergency when someone trying to find out why he was billed for something he doesn't think he should have been keeps calling the suicide hotline.