alt Hacker NewsWhat if the help they need is just to talk to someone without fear of consequences?
If they dispatch you to an institution you could lose your job just when you need money to pay for the bills you'll be sent.
With some careers, like being a pilot, you'd never be be to find another job.
You'd lose your ability to take out life insurance (even if it was a short temporary depression that you got over, like a side effect of a medication, the life insurance companies won't care.)
Or the institution's records could be hacked and you'll live in fear of your friends and family finding out.. which could cause rebound suicidal ideation...
There is no way I would ever call these hotlines unless it were 100% anonymous.
> What if the help they need is just to talk to someone without fear of consequences?
Is there actually any consequence free conversations? Even Lawyers can break confidentiality in some situations. I'm not saying that the hotline is perfect, I'm saying that it provides a lot of good. I hope you never feel the need to call the hotline, but it's an option that saves a lot of lives.