Strange question, but what does the hotline actually do? Supposing you call them with serious suicidal ideation, do they dispatch police? Direct you to a shrink? Just talk?

Under the understanding that suicide is an act of spontaneity and not always highly determined, a hotline gives the amount of time necessary for an acute urge to pass. Depending on the source, it also informs people where and how to get help.

Of course, much of the effects relies on the skill of the folk on the other line. But it is always extremely important to have something, anything, interrupt what is often a compulsion that passes.

They distract you just long enough that the feeling subsides slightly .

Do you have any sources or facts to back up your claim? Genuinely interested if there are statistics around this.

I also wonder if they get a lot of calls. If suicide is an act of spontaneity, do people stop to think "I should call a hotline"?

> If suicide is an act of spontaneity, do people stop to think "I should call a hotline"?

You only need one that does to save a live.

True, true. I'm not arguing against them by the way - I think they are a good thing. But I'm just being curious about the 'stats'.