I am in a suicide bereavement group that meets on a regular basis. We have all lost a loved one to suicide.

We were discussing the lack of mental health professionals and training when someone asks for help. Many of our loved ones had gone to therapists and doctors and asked for help and didn’t get responses you would hope for from lack of training and resources in our opinions.

One person gave the experience of telling a therapist they were suicidal, like had a plan they told the therapist in details. The therapist hands her a card with the suicide hotline # on it. And I agree with the person who said in that moment would I have called the number, no. The therapist was passing the buck, “covering” herself, and passing the person onto someone else.

I personally have called the suicide hotline for advice. My family member who did take their own life was threatening it years before they did it. I had their therapist telling me not to section her but my gut was saying I have no other choice she’s a danger to herself and at the time her roommates. I will tell you, the suicide hotline was not helpful. They basically told me to get her on the phone, ummm well someone was smashing every plate and glasses in the cabinet they were not going to get on the phone.

So my poll question, do you think when someone is actually suicidal, would they stop and call the hotline? People not in the situation always say to call, but is it realistic?