Have you used any of the suicidal hotline chats/crisis lines?

[SeekingAfrica]

I have, and I can tell you depending on where you are the quality of the person at the other...

I am not in my native country, and I still don't feel confident enough in my language skills to express these kind of thoughts in that language. I do in English, which is also not native for me, but I started learning it in first grade, so it's different.
That's why I usually try to find online crisis chats where I can do it in English- for example I've used RAINN, but that was when I was having lots of flashbacks and whatnot. But this isn't that type of crisis, so I can't chat with them about it.

 

[joeylittle]

Are you sure you can't try RAINN anyway? Chat lines are usually pretty flexible.

In the US I've used www.crisischat.org. They have been good. I find typing easier and more effective than talking

 

[anonymous]

When going to such a site as www.crisischat.org, and engaging in conversion, can a person be traced down? Is it anonymous, or if they decide you are in immediate danger will they send somebody after you? This is something I have been curious about in the past. Do you know?

 

[EveHarrington]

I'm seriously not trying to minimize your situation but I think that crisis lines are for when you are in immediate danger of doing something to hurt yourself or others, are in a state where you are flipping out and can't calm down to save your soul, and things along those lines. I think what you're looking for is more along the lines of a support line. The distinction is important because if you call a crisis line and you aren't in a true crisis, they can/will curtail your call. A support line will listen to you longer.

 

[joeylittle]

I do not believe they can pin down your location. But if you are concerned about such a thing, you'd want a VPN to mask your location.

If you aren't going to make suicidal threats, then there's really nothing to worry about. They are expecting you to be very very low and in need of help.

I like to visualize crisis lines as pressure-releasers. For myself, I've learned that they can really help when I've got a build up of negative thoughts/emotions and I just need the support of another human in order to get them out.

Times I'm concerned for my safety, I call my therapist.

 

[anonymous]

No, that is not what I am asking. I am asking if you call, will they track you down if they can't talk you down.

 

[joeylittle]

The distinction is important because if you call a crisis line and you aren't in a true crisis, they can/will curtail your call. A support line will listen to you longer.

This is a great point.

The website of the organization usually has a clearly marked "who is this service for?" section, and it will tell you what kind of calls they take.

 

[anonymous]

Sorry. The last one got crossed with your ups @joeylittle

 

[joeylittle]

No, that is not what I am asking. I am asking if you call, will they track you down if they can't ta...

Phone lines, yes, if they are able. But they will first try and get you to call emergency services yourself. Or they will contract for safety. It depends on the organization.

Crisischat is a chat (text chat) service. That's what I thought you were asking about. Hence, VPN.

 

[anonymous]

Okay. I meant the chat and not the phone. I should not have said "call". It is only out of curiosity right now. It is something I have pondered in the past. Thank you.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

When you get right down to it, you would not be reaching out to a crisis chat or line if you did not want someone to help you with what your feeling, and if that feeling is being suicidal, then it seems to me them talking you out of it, having you call for help, or some other measure to insure your safety is likely to be the outcome of such contacts.

I can't envision someone anonymously making contact just to announce they are going to follow thru suicide, most who are dead set on suicide either don't say anything or they announce it in some fashion so that those who are part of their world know how much they hurt.

So it would seem to me tracking down someone is sort of irrelevant. But since the concern has been raised in regards to CHAT, I can put your mind at ease. The only info that is available to such a service is your IP address, and most providers use IP address pools, so IP addresses can change at any time. With some providers the pools are implemented by region or city but not always. Even if the region or city is known, it still takes a court order to get an ISP to disclose the user of that IP address at a given time. And ISP are very adamant at not disclosing such info to authorities without a court order. And court orders don't happen quickly, and reasonable cause has to be shown to get one.

Phones however are a different matter, the CALLER ID can be used to locate a person, as in most cities phone number, name, and address are part of the advanced version of 911.

I know for me being tracked down is not a concern, it seems everyone around me knows me well enough they almost know when I am having s/i and need to be hospitalized. I know my last hospitalization I was in the process of executing my plan, not saying anything to anyone. It was those who saw me earlier in the day who picked up on that something was wrong with me, and checked on my well being with very direct S/I related questions, which once I received such contacts I was committed to go to the ER or risk having unwanted drama involving police/sheriff/ems at my doorstep.