How do we get more veterans to call to use suicide hotlines when they need them?

PV2 Violet Case — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:25:04 -0500

I want to give an example. The VA where I go threw is trying very hard from how far away they are to do the best they can. But one day the guy who calls to chat and check in on me found I was having a very bad bad day. I never threatened suicide I was having troubles getting the post office to see why I needed mail brought to my door. I was crippled twice, and made a comment if people would have seen me get run into on the highway with a truck and stayed in the wheel chair then would they understand. Well the talk line didnt understand what I was trying to say when I get upset best I lay down but that day I decided to try to talk and things just wouldn't come out right.Never did I say I wanted to commit suicide tho. Maybe in 87 when I tried it was bad enough it scared everyone. I no I haven't tried since then but he told me to call a 1-800 number so I did and they put me on hold for over 20 minutes and when they got back on the phone and said they were the suicide prevention number how can they help me I was angry and said for starters anyone if they were wanting to commit suicide could have already done it while on hold. Well I do have to commend my chat guy he did talk to his boss and they got an ambulance here and took me to the nearest hospital for evaluation and found it was a misunderstanding in my wording. But I was known in my area to help the disabled and elderly and this hotline number putting someone on hold was wrong wrong wrong. And even our Congressman and senators new I would fight to get things done by written petitions in the old days. Well today I can't handle it anymore to do it. But how can we as veterans and a group get more people on those hot line numbers and get people to use them appropriately so our veterans and soldiers will call them?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2015 11:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:37:48 -0500

By doing what you're doing right now; raising awareness. Chances are there are people out there that are wondering the same thing that you are. The more you reach out, the more likely you will find them. Especially with our multiple means of mass communication these days.

I can't speak for the suicide hotlines, but I can speak from the perspective of a former 911 dispatcher.

Before I started work in Emergency Services, I didn't know people called 911 as much as they did. On average, I would answer nearly 50-60 calls in a 12 hour shift. On shift there were only two call-takers for an area with a population of over 200,000+ residents. There were times when we got in the weeds and even though we can hear multiple lines ringing, we weren't able to put the caller on hold until we got the crucial information we needed. Sometimes that meant they were on hold for 10 minutes.

I can only imagine it is the same for some of these other call centers. Although it seems terrible to put someone with suicidal ideations on hold, I would like to assume they are not doing so with any malicious intent.

Response by SPC Larry Buck made Feb 10 at 2015 11:29 AM

SPC Larry Buck — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:29:10 -0500

They do fairly decent here in Ohio ,but still the hold thing isnt really cool regardless of situation.. But remember this little sister, if The Creator wanted ya you won't need to attempt anything... Reason I walk like Superman and carry a grudge on my shoulder the size of the humanity on earth and growing, I'll snap someday people better be on my shoulder not my boot tread "stupid congress" ...cause if The Divine And Creator of The Way to Be In The Way.. Wants me I'm all HIS can't stop it and nobody else will eather ...so suicide is for those whose time it is they just can't wait to serve the Master....

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Feb 10 at 2015 1:55 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:55:01 -0500

Violet, I'm sorry that you've gone through so much hell. The VA and other agencies are actually working on hiring more crisis line folks. For instance, San Diego 211 is hiring military reps to help take calls to assist military folks.

Besides ERs there are many other ways to get help in a crisis. I and most other clergy would talk with you if you called us and said you were in crisis, whether or not you were a congregant of mine.

In addition, I provide counseling through The Soldier's Project. TSP counselors provide free counseling to combat vets who are having problems.

If you need to talk to someone, contact me off line, and I'll be glad to work with you...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 11:54 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:54:13 -0500

One huge problem is that at-risk Veterans are in fear of getting confined for saying how they feel and this is not a random thing. As I have mentioned before, the VA in Durham has panic buttons on the wall for Veterans that are believed to be violent. I think the perception is being conveyed that this a common problem but that kind of thinking could be a part of the problem.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2015 12:02 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 00:02:24 -0500

I'm glad you are pursuing a more responsible and reliable place for soldiers and veterans to seek help. I myself have used a Help line for soldiers when I was in need the woman on the other end continued to eat what ever she was having sounded like an apple due to all the crunching in the phone. I felt un important and I hate opening up to people so you can imagine this experience only made me that much more hesitate to call anyone else if need be.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Feb 18 at 2015 5:05 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 17:05:57 -0500

Another problem is the hotline conversations can be useless. If they have a relevant program and not try to steer you in the direction of their script they might be useful. Also, if the VA was able to properly help people to begin with and not help put them into an angry state or feeling a lot of despair to begin with, the problem may not be as bad. Finally, we have PTSD - if the VA does not establish itself as our friend, then they become the foe. Pretty simple concept.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 11:27 AM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 11:27:20 -0500

It's great to have an hotline for veterans to call when they are experiencing behavioral situation out of their control.

But###

Questions you must ask yourself
Is VA hotline useful?
Is counseling service rendered in a timely manner to our veterans?

Too many factors to review before a determination is made if the VA hotline is a valuable tool to use.