Chat with National Suicide Prevention Line Made Me Feel Much Worse
I have been feeling so down that I went ahead and got enough courage to go use the "chat" function on the National Suicide Prevention Line... thinking I could get some help there. Because literally all of my thoughts spiral back to just not existing anymore. I hate asking for help but I was so desperate I decided to reach out to somebody.
The counselor at the National Suicide Prevention Line I was connected to asked me what was going on. I pour my heart out and tell her everything.
There was barely any response. Just "oh, well, that sounds like a lot" "well, just take it day by day"...
YES, I know that.
Then she goes "So, does that help?"
I tell her I appreciate her talking to me, but honestly she hasn't said much. She literally had typed two sentences. Like I typed a huge essay full of details of what I'm struggling with and it did not seem like she gave one IOTA of genuine care.
Then she said "well, if I'm not making you feel better, you should call our hotline" and types the hotline number.
I said to her "I appreciate you talking to me, but honestly you haven't said much."
After a long pause, she typed "ok, well, how do you want me to help?"
well, gee, I guess maybe by actually saying more than 2 sentences as a reaction to everything I've told you? It felt like she couldn't wait to redirect me to call the hotline and end the chat.
It left me more hopeless than ever.
It has only reinforced the psychological conditioning that has shaped me all of my life: can't rely on other people. Yet deep down, I'm craving to find one human being, who can genuinely care and help.
Has anyone else had a negative experience using the National Suicide Prevention Line chat?
@lavenderPomegranate6687
Sorry for what you experienced.
The people there have their own problems too.
Sometimes they are new and inexperienced.
Sometimes they are over-stressed.
Also they get a lot of people that harass them so they have to go through a lot.
You could try another time or another similar service.
@lavenderPomegranate6687 To answer your question, yes, I've seen other reports on the Internet written by people who had negative experiences with them.
7 Cups is here so you can find a human being who can genuinely care and help. You can use the Connect Now button to connect with a listener. Or you can use our Browse Listeners page and choose any listener who has a Chat Now button. You are also welcome to click on my profile picture and message me, if you like (although I might not be able to reply immediately).
Charlie
@lavenderPomegranate6687 That must have been so hard for you, to reach for support and to just get two lines. I have used the hotline chat feature thrice. In all my three times, I have noticed that they rarely reply with more than two or three very basic sentences. The first time I used it, I told the responder about my entire sexual abuse (the first time I had opened up about it). Their reply was, 'Ok.'. I was not expecting any magical words from them but a bit more than an 'Ok' would have been nicer. I guess I was only looking for some supportive and understanding replies. After when I still sounded upset, they said that they cannot help me anymore and I should contact my local sexual assualt center. Once the responder accidently texted me something. He said that he was supposed to text that to someone else he is chatting with. It probably means that he was doing more than one chat at once.
I understand that they might be overburdened or under pressure or under staffed. Some people might have had good experiences with them too. I am sorry that the operator only replied to you with two lines. After sharing you feelings, you must have expected some comforting sentences, as anyone in your shoes would. Hugs if you need some.
@hillsideblues Exactly. I wasn't looking for them to solve all my problems or "magical words" as you aptly phrased it - just some empathy from a fellow human being and maybe some guidance on how I can snap myself out of the spiral of negative thoughts and ideations. Instead I got the feeling of being brushed aside as if I was on a customer service call with a rep who couldn't wait to clock out at 5PM. I know everyone is just human and even counselors are struggling with their own issues, but I was genuinely shocked at the level of support they give. It actually has the opposite effect of preventing suicide.
@lavenderPomegranate6687 Exactly. It made me feel like that too, that I was a burden and I had shared with them something that was personal and sensitive to me. I hope you find support here because you deserve support.
I'm glad that you're posting this here. It's only day 2 of being on 7cups for me, and I've already gotten more help than the hotline chat. Calling them was the worst. It seemed that the goal was to get me off the phone as soon as possible. They told me to get help and what they said to do wasn't possible for me at the time (I did eventually get help). I called on two different occasions, and both people sounded half asleep and a little angry. I was so scared. Calling the hotline that you're told to call when you are in danger, and having it be the opposite of helpful, is the last thing a terrified person needs. It's horrible to think that someone may have lost their life after trying to reach out for help and being treated this way.
You are doing the right thing by finding communities like this where people do care to help. This place should be promoted way more than the hotline or it's chat verison. Thank you for saying what I've thought about before. I hope that posting online will help. You've probably heard this one before, and I'll say it again; you're not alone.
-L
@NomadicLoner Thank you for your kind words. Exactly, that is how I felt as well. It took so much courage to even reach out to someone... I thought that was the official place to reach out for help, but it was met with such an empty shallow response that it made me question even more, is it worth even trying to get help? To know that you felt similarly as me makes me feel less alone, definitely.
@lavenderPomegranate6687
Since you asked for help, you already decided your worth helping. Keep pursuing it, until you finally find someone who can understand you and have the words of wisdom to counsel you. Don't put your value on others, believe you are worth it, worth fighting for. To be honest, it really is our responsibility because it's our life, it's our body, mind, and soul. We should fight to survive and live in a broken world and pursue what we are born for. You are already courageous for pursuing help. We live in a broken world, we need courage in a world of suffering. You have it already.
I haven't tried the chat feature before, but I did call the hotline back in 2008. I was in a very bad state back then, when I thought I should reach out for help and I called them. Seeing how I'm still here today, they convinced me to stop in my tracks. I had a good half hour chat with the person, they were more empathetic to my situation and what was going through my mind. I'd suggest you to try the hotline, they sound like trained professionals~
@lavenderPomegranate6687