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Comment by OliverJones | Hacker News Reader

In the United States the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or over chat at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

In Japan, the Health Ministry website has contacts for people to find support by phone or online. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/mamorouyokokoro/

In South Korea, the Korea Suicide Prevention Center operates a 24-hour hotline at 1393. http://www.suicideprevention.or.kr/main/index.html

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Remember, if you are in the US at least, and someone tells you they aren't ok, and you recommend a crisis line, and they mention anything regarding suicide, they are very likely going to be extracted from their living situation by physical force and end up incarcerated against their will, at very high expense to themselves, potentially in a way that could lose them their current housing or employment.

If their life was going poorly before that, it sure won't be better after.

The record of this could follow you around for life as well.

I understand this is considered conventional wisdom to recommend these help lines but I really think you should rethink that.

In addition to all those negatives, they don't do much help either. As if a phone call to a stranger will make any difference to someone who's contemplating suicide.

Suicide prevention workers I know are WELL AWARE that US emergency services (police, ambulance) only have one tool available to them -- grabbing and restraining the subject. And they're very much aware of the disadvantages of that. So they avoid calling the cops whenever they can.

To say callers to hotlines are "very likely" to be grabbed is incorrect. Seriously.

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