My first “real” social work experience was in a basement of a non-profit in St. Louis, Missouri. This basement was where I was trained as a crisis worker for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For two years, I answered calls at all times of day and night from people around the country. People call the hotline for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, thoughts of suicide, help for others who are struggling with thoughts of suicide, loss of friends and family from suicide, and much more. Answering my first few calls was possibly one of the most nerve-wracking things I have ever done but also some of the most rewarding work I have ever done. Like most topics around mental health, suicide is not talked about enough. As a society, we are afraid of suicide and the connotations that come with it. I learned several things from my time on the hotline but in this piece, you will hear about the few I have found to be the most valuable.
If you, or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please know there are people out there that care about you and are ready and open to talk 24/7. For more information, visit, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.
800-273-8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Written by,
Lexie Martin-Browne, LSW