This is a pretty enduring meme (in the Dawkins sense). I wonder if it has any effect at all.
As further evidence (albeit anecdotal) I have noticed, especially in light of prominent suicides in the last few years, that the information posted seems to be getting more attention, with, as you called it, meme-like inclusion almost everywhere and every time suicide is discussed. This has correlated with an increase in the number of calls they receive.
They have received more than 12,000,000 calls since 2005, with 8,500,000 just between 2014-2018, much faster than the increases in suicide rates.
[0] https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/201...
People who commit have real problems that a phone call generally doesn’t solve, unless your problem is just about feelings, which is... let’s say it helps those who call for attention a lot, and who would end up with a failed attempt to call for attention, which will attract attention, but it will hide the real x5 numbers behind the scenes of the other gender who actually commits suicide when they try.
It’s time to stop with the « let’s speak about it » attitude, and start with the « let’s give you funds/education/solve your parental problems/throw the book at your boss/mandate your wife to let you see your kids/stop sidestepping you at work/fix the VA together » attitude.
Men are not an option.
I have a certain degree of personal knowledge on this topic, and there are absolutely people who would be dead right know if they made that call... And no one picked up on the other end.
Also, I don't understand why is so much anger around people who are so starving and desperate for attention. You was quite apparently looking for attention too. That you turned frustration at others does not make it less so.
They won't call the suicide hotline for you. They won't transfer you. They won't share their number. What they'll do is send the police.
I can safely say, in retrospect, that although I survived it, it took nearly a decade to fully heal from that event. But in the mean time, I also learned (thanks to posts like these) about the Samaritans and later in the UK, they helped me get through the tougher moments of this process.
I don't know how significant the effect is, but it's non-zero. :)
I will say -- these phone lines are staffed by human beings. Even with the best of intentions, they're just that, humans. They wont always get it right.
But, when they do, it can be life changing.
I'm always grateful for the kind Samaritans lady who stayed on the phone for over an hour one night.