New mental health crisis hotline--988

[Magical Realist]

"Beginning Saturday, people experiencing a mental health crisis will be able to call or text a three-digit number, 988, to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and connect with mental health professionals trained to respond to such emergencies.

The hotline will provide 24/7 free and confidential emotional support around the country to those in mental health distress, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline website explains.

The new number will connect the caller to a certified crisis center in the area where the call is placed, according to the website. The hotline is made up of a network of 200 local crisis centers around the country.

“When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network,” the website says. “These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/988...Dpz1nezOYQ

[Leigha]

While this is a great service, there needs to be better infrastructure related to handling people with mental health issues. If the local authorities are alerted (if the person calling is on the verge of suicide) and they’re taken to say the local ER, that’s not a longer term solution. Unless they assess people and then send them for assistance elsewhere.

[confused2]

Is this a just a new number (or re-branding) for an old organisation?  Certainly in the UK we've had Samaritans on the phone for many years (at least 30).
https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/
I used to know one of their volunteers - she was quite special. I don't know if they select well or the volunteers somehow self-select.
In my opinion crisis management with just a little bit of help is a major step forward in the direction of self-empowerment. Long term support is a swamp from which some (many?) may never escape.

[RainbowUnicorn]

Is this a just a new number (or re-branding) for an old organisation?  Certainly in the UK we've had Samaritans on the phone for many years (at least 30).
https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/
I used to know one of their volunteers - she was quite special. I don't know if they select well or the volunteers somehow self-select.
In my opinion crisis management with just a little bit of help is a major step forward in the direction of self-empowerment. Long term support is a swamp from which some (many?) may never escape.

Long term support is a swamp from which some (many?) may never escape.

mental illness is a life long swamp

mental illness IS the swamp

a quick slap in the face & a hearty cheer is not a cure-all
as society & the world gets more complicated, so will mental illness
just look at the fractured nature of the world and many countrys.

it is mental illness that they are trying to escape from
not some do-gooders bible class

[confused2]

Is this a just a new number (or re-branding) for an old organisation?  Certainly in the UK we've had Samaritans on the phone for many years (at least 30).
https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/
I used to know one of their volunteers - she was quite special. I don't know if they select well or the volunteers somehow self-select.
In my opinion crisis management with just a little bit of help is a major step forward in the direction of self-empowerment. Long term support is a swamp from which some (many?) may never escape.

Long term support is a swamp from which some (many?) may never escape.

mental illness is a life long swamp

mental illness IS the swamp

a quick slap in the face & a hearty cheer is not a cure-all
as society & the world gets more complicated, so will mental illness
just look at the fractured nature of the world and many countrys.

it is mental illness that they are trying to escape from
not some do-gooders bible class

In my experience of knowing a phone 'Samaritan' there is no religion whatsoever - the Good Samaritan in the meme I know was something about heathen who stopped to help 'someone'.. I've forgotten the rest of the story. Despite the biblical reference the name (meme) works in UK culture for whatever it is - maybe not so well in the US.

If you have a mental illness or problem you will get better, right now you might not see how or when.. but you will be ok.

Some (many) things I fuck about with - this isn't one of them.

[RainbowUnicorn]

Is this a just a new number (or re-branding) for an old organisation?  Certainly in the UK we've had Samaritans on the phone for many years (at least 30).
https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/
I used to know one of their volunteers - she was quite special. I don't know if they select well or the volunteers somehow self-select.
In my opinion crisis management with just a little bit of help is a major step forward in the direction of self-empowerment. Long term support is a swamp from which some (many?) may never escape.

Long term support is a swamp from which some (many?) may never escape.

mental illness is a life long swamp

mental illness IS the swamp

a quick slap in the face & a hearty cheer is not a cure-all
as society & the world gets more complicated, so will mental illness
just look at the fractured nature of the world and many countrys.

it is mental illness that they are trying to escape from
not some do-gooders bible class

In my experience of knowing a phone 'Samaritan' there is no religion whatsoever - the Good Samaritan in the meme I know was something about heathen who stopped to help 'someone'.. I've forgotten the rest of the story. Despite the biblical reference the name (meme) works in UK culture for whatever it is - maybe not so well in the US.

If you have a mental illness or problem you will get better, right now you might not see how or when.. but you will be ok.

Some (many) things I fuck about with - this isn't one of them.

If you have a mental illness or problem you will get better, right now you might not see how or when.. but you will be ok.

or you will get worse or stay bad
problems tend to get either worse or better
when people perceive mild problems as being important they then think solving mild problems is the same as solving very difficult problems.

= lack of experience

human mental health is a specialty science but unfortunately a lot of people dont think so
in spite of the number of suicides and violence

just the same as when humans invented air travel
or how mirrors and cameras are considered by some tribes as being evil magic.
psychiatric science is still perceived as voodoo by a large percentage of modern society

[Magical Realist]

I'd be afraid the cops would show up if I use that number. Twice I had them banging on my door for a welfare check called in by my mom and my sister. I felt bad for them when I told them I was ok and wasn't suicidal. They were so prepared to take some kind of action!