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.

Comments

Heh - Boomers and their "phone numbers"

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

>> 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.

So much cheaper than actual health care

[ffkom]

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!

This again?

[GoRK]

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.

Re:This again?

[ljw1004]

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.

The only thing I know about this area is from donating money to https://www.crisisconnections.... and attending their charity dinner and listening to their expert speakers, plus my housemate is one of their volunteers who answers their phonelines once a week. Crisis Connections handles about 350 crisis hotline calls per day, which if I remember right is about 90% of all calls made in Washington State. They are reachable on the number 2-1-1.

I got the impression that most calls are NOT emergencies. And that callers are put off by 911 because it's been drummed into them to only call 911 in case of emergencies. The people are calling 211 for support -- moments of crisis, domestic violence, uncertainty or loneliness. Where do I get food and shelter? My utilities have been turned off and I don't know what to do? I can't make rent and I'm being kicked out and I don't know whom to turn to? I'm lonely and don't have anyone and am worried I'll slide back into drugs? Not all of them (I believe only few of them) are right at the point of a suicide emergency intervention. Imagine if you call 911 and they ask you if you want police, fire service or ambulance, and you tell them you just need someone to talk to because you've run out of money and can't make rent and despair of what to do for your kids over Christmas. I don't think that would go down well with an impatient 911 operator who needs to quickly handle urgent emergencies.

The other thing that struck me is how Crisis Connections believes it urgently needs to invest more in texting -- a modern generation has grown up where a phone call is too big an obstacle (so imagine how they'd feel with 911!). Crisis Connections wants to meet them where they're at, i.e. over text messages.

Symptoms vs Sources

[TimMD909]

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.

Self reporting?

[Arzaboa]

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?

--
No one has ever become poor by giving. -- Anne Frank

611 is most appropriate

[SeaFox]

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.

Finding the cause vs treating the symptoms

[nehumanuscrede]

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.