Suicide is a sensitive subject, and not many people know how to address it. Their first reaction is to recommend the suicide hotline or therapy since they don’t feel qualified to deal with our baggage.
But honestly—can they at least try?
I’ve had so many people shut me down when I try to speak to them about my suicidal thoughts, and they won’t even venture to offer advice, consolation, or a thoughtful discussion about the nature of our existence. They respond with: “You need to get help” and slip the suicide hotline number into my DM’s.
It feels condescending at this point. Like they’re essentially saying, “Don’t dump your problems on me, talk to someone, anyone else about it” because let’s face it—they don’t know anyone who works for the suicide hotline place, and neither do we.
Sure, just talk to a random stranger instead of somebody who knows you personally and might be able to offer insight or advice that’s unique to your situation.
Not to mention the fact that there are many documented incidents now of people getting taken away by police officers and held in treatment centers against their will for calling the number. Or being traumatized when the responder is rude to them, hangs up, or tells them to “only call if it’s an emergency” (when there very well could be an emergency going on in their head, even if they’re not a sobbing, weeping mess).
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