[spicybright]

and, from my own experience, the whole idea of sending someone anti-suicide hotlines is a bit... insulting, honestly.

It's like if I had a chronic back condition, and instead of finding from people wanting to listen I get the equivalent of a flyer in the mail about back issues.

The person that was trying to ends the potentially uncomfortable conversation and gets to wash their hands of the situation, thinking they helped.

If you're suicidal and posting on social media, of course you know about the hotlines. Getting spammed with it is so discouraging though.

And, for what it's work, I live in the US, and have tried calling the major hotlines in two different episodes only to get a busy signal. A person to talk to what would have helped me most in that situation.

(And btw, I'm not saying people are obligated to help suicidal people. it's just if someone actually wants to help, a canned text response is not effective.)

[robertrmorris]

Frankly, I agree with pretty much all of this. We hear similar things from our users. This is why we try to provide a suite of options, including things like peer support and other interventions they can engage with immediately — as compliments to lifelines. We’re still learning about what works best, but the status quo is abysmal. Here’s an example: I can go on Google and search for “flight to Miami” and I’ll be led through an incredible UX that’s designed to get me to a purchase as quickly as possible. But if I search for “depression”, I get a one-box that provides a list of clinical definitions of depression, bipolar, and its various subtypes — better suited for a diagnostic manual than for anyone who might actually be struggling. Other platforms provide tips on how to take a deep breath, reach out to friends, or walk around the block (the digital equivalent to a health brochure you might find in a waiting room). The shortcomings of these approaches have been studied before, and yet they still persist. Why don’t we measure and track these things with the same rigor we do for all online experiences?

[runnerup]

I know how to help someone buy a plane ticket, and I can program a computer to help them do that.

I often do know how to help people deal with non suicidal depression but I dont always have time and energy to help…and I definitely cannot program a computer to do what I know how to do.

I don’t have any clue how to help someone reduce suicidal intent.

[jimmygrapes]

I've thought about this topic a lot myself (how to reduce or remove suicidal intent) and the most consistently "successful" and promising (yet still vague) solution has been: make an IMMEDIATE and significant change in the suicidal person's environment. Environment includes where they are, how much money/debt/costs they have, who they are in contact with, and many other factors. These are the factors that underlie and trigger the suicidal intent (n.b. depression may exist but it is entirely orthogonal under this premise).

I don't mean "fix the problem that made them suicidal."

I mean physically pick them up and take them somewhere else (a safe place preferably, but there's something to be said for a sudden shock of actual danger). I mean send them a thousand bucks. I mean pay off their car loan, pay their rent for a year, something that eliminates that primary stressor.

Suicide is very often a single/recurrent practical situation that gets catastrophized into sheer despair, yes often with other mental health concerns confounding. But you can't fix those immediately. You can bring force to rehab (not great, many downsides). You can take them for coffee.

Talking might help, in fact it's necessary, but it's not enough.

[jpindar]

Truth. The only reason I'm suicidal is that I'm broke.