Hotline
03 Mar 2021Today’s prompt: “You are a brand-new suicide-hotline counselor. Describe how you feel during the course of your first call.”
“This is the suicide hotline, how–” you begin.
“You’re going to do it tonight after your shift,” a voice cuts you off.
“What?” you stammer.
“You’re going to die by suicide tonight after your shift. Round about 7:18.”
“Excuse me? Is this a prank?”
“Pills,” the voice says.
“Let me try this again. This is the suicide hotline. Have you been having any suicidal ideation?”
“No. I just want to report a planned suicide. Yours.”
“Look, that – that’s not how suicide hotlines work.”
“I don’t make the rules either. Just the predictions. I’m sorry. I’m guessing it’s going to be a rough night.”
We’re now past 500,000 deaths due to COVID-19, but death by suicide has also increased since the start of the pandemic. Many people have been suffering from loneliness, isolation and depression. If you have had thoughts of suicide, please get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.