Posted on 05/26/2005 4:33:01 AM PDT by Air Conditioned Gypsy
Suicide hotline to open only from 9 to 5
Wed May 25, 1:59 PM ET
TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian province will shut its 24-hour suicide hotline and replace it with one that operates only during business hours.
Prince Edward Island, a small province on Canada's East Coast, says it is too expensive to operate the hotline around the clock. Starting June 1, it will be open only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The plan drew protest from mental health groups across the country on Wednesday.
"How many times, when you get upset or worried or concerned about things, is it in the middle of the day? It's usually at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning when you wake up," said Joan Wright, executive director of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention based in Edmonton, Alberta.
The hotline received about 1,400 calls a year and about 50 were from people contemplating suicide, health groups said.
"One of the things I was hearing is the government felt there weren't enough suicide-related calls," Wright said.
Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province with a population of about 137,000 people, is trying to tame its budget deficit. The hotline cost about C$30,000 (12,965 pounds) a year to run.
"It's a very small amount of money in our view," said Reid Burke, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
"(Given) the economic cost of a suicide, if governments pay attention to dollars and numbers, not what happens to people, it just doesn't make sense."
When you're a subject and not a citizen in the eyes of the government, what do you expect from everyone else?
Other music...
BOC's "Don't Fear the Reaper."
1400 calls from 50 nutjobs? That's 28 calls per kook. Also C$600 per lunatic per year to operate (about $.35 US). Sounds like it would have been cheaper to issue instructions...
If they're really only going to be open 8 hours a day. It should be hours other than 9 to 5 when conceivably people might be able to get help elsewhere.
Sounds like a job for an Indian call center.
Mash tune. The original with vocals.
Is that the movie where Sally Field is reading a book while Burt is humping her?
I called the phone company yesterday, and their message is strikingly similiar.
Dr. Demento has a piece in a similar vein.
Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...
[REFRAIN]:
that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...
[REFRAIN]
The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.
[REFRAIN]
The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.
[REFRAIN]
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...
[REFRAIN]
A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'
[REFRAIN]
'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please.
that's it.
Press 1 for English.
Our regular office hours are from 9AM to 5PM.
Please note that our menu options have changed.
For poisoning Press 1.
For shooting press 2(sub-menu for shooting has: For handgun press 1; For shotgun press 2, For black powder press 3)
For hanging Press 3.
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"If you can't take the punches life gives you..."
Some people have medical conditions that affect their minds to such a degree that it makes them suicidal regardless of what events are going on in their life.
You forget that this is Canada. People don't volunteer like they do in the States. Canadians believe that type of work should be done by the government. It is a Nanny State. Moreover, the government is so heavily unionized that the government unions would see volunteers as taking paying jobs away from union members. Can't have those evil volunteers taking pay away from a deserving employee. I hate Canada and I'm Canadian.
"Your call is important to us........"
For most people, you are right. But there are people with legitimate mental health disorders where life experiences drive them over the edge. It is irrational and most rational people can't understand it. That's why it is a mental disorder. These people have brains that aren't working like everyone elses. I believe that society is being over-therapied, but that doesn't mean there are serious cases where help like this is important. Most people that are serious about suicide just do it and try not to make it look like a suicide. But there are people that use suicide, or at least the attempt, as a means of getting some type of attention or help in life. These people definitely need help and a phone line like this is a tool to help save these people.
Please know your call may be monitered for quality assurance.
I would imagine that seriously contemplating suicide shows some kind of mental imbalance.
I consider myself self to be strong-willed and I guess that is why I can't understand why people do this.
My grandfather committed suicide in 1967 and it was a shock because he was such a strong person. It's amazing how you never know what is going thru a person's mind.
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