Suicide crisis lines are telephone numbers that a person can call if they feel like killing or hurting themselves.[1]
There have been studies in the United States[2] and Australia[3] which show that suicide crisis lines may help people who feel like killing or hurting themselves and may make them feel better.
One of the first of these "hotlines" was the Samaritans, created in 1953 by Chad Varah in the United Kingdom, who managed the church in London which at that time was called St. Steven's Church. He believed there should be a place where people can listen to visitors and callers who thought about killing themselves, and help them feel better. He had this idea after giving a speech to help comfort the family and friends of a 13-year-old girl. Before her death, the girl was extremely worried and had nobody to talk to.[4]
- ↑ Samaritans:Chad Varah
- ↑ Gould MS, Kalafat J, Harrismunfakh JL, et al. An evaluation of crisis hotline outcomes. Part 2: Suicidal callers. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2007 Jun;37(3):338-52. PMID 1757954
- ↑ King R, Nurcombe B, Bickman L, Hides L, et al. Telephone counselling for adolescent suicide prevention: changes in suicidality and mental state from beginning to end of a counselling session. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2003 Winter;33(4):400-11. PMID 14695055
- ↑ "Press Release: The Life and Work of Chad Varah". Archived from the original on 9 February 2012.