1-800-SUICIDE recieves termination notice

Contributed by dpotts. Posted by aubin on Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 1:55 PM (EDT)

In light of the recent funding issues faced by the non-profit suicide hotline, 1-800-SUICIDE, the company's provider Patriot Communications has sent a termination notice (PDF) which gives the organization till Saturday to pay outstanding debts of $67,512.00

This amount is nearly $200,000 less, than the unmet committments from the federal government who have been trying to nationalize the service and gain access to the confidential records.

For more information or to make a donation go to save1800suicide.org.

1-800-SUICIDE is a non-profit suicide hotline supported by the Take Action Tour and Mike Park's Plea for Peace.

Politics (139 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

what the fuck???

xminivanbanditx (August 10, 2006)

Seriously.

The4footpartysub (August 10, 2006)

wheres bill gates when we need him?

dpotts (August 10, 2006)

I just sent an email to the Gates Foundation.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org

___waltz (August 10, 2006)

that website runs on linux.

ChokingVictim (August 10, 2006)

Lame.

Mental_Decay (August 10, 2006)

This is so screwed up.

Everything's just about money now days...

usversusthem (August 10, 2006)

Everything's always just been about money, dude.

Hate to break it to you.

colin (August 10, 2006)

i blame the terrorists.

in all seriousness, though, this is totally fucked.

drunkenriot (August 10, 2006)

so anyone ready to take action yet, or umm online is still the way the protest?

ChokingVictim (August 10, 2006)

Internet, all the way.

drunkenriot (August 10, 2006)

shit, i guess jeb in 2008 then

ChokingVictim (August 10, 2006)

Ha I was kidding, I plan on donating at least something to try and help.

dpotts (August 10, 2006)

Don't even joke about it, you'll give me nightmares.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

yeah, not cool man, not cool.
eli

Someone (August 10, 2006)

There's no time to protest. Donate!!! I did and god knows that I can't even afford it.

HeyBarmold (August 10, 2006)

when I say go, you say go....

mikeinflames (August 10, 2006)

wow
the good ol' usa really fucking sucks

it's mildly hillarious how paranoid your government are though

the sad thing is that canada isn't that far behind now

Someone (August 10, 2006)

yeah, now that we have good ol conservative stephen harper in command.
eli

Johnny_X (August 10, 2006)

this shit is ridiculous. i wouldn't be suprised if i found out the federal government moniters punknews.org message boards.

the_other_scott (August 10, 2006)

whatever you never did the right thing anyways.

Johnny_X (August 10, 2006)

haha. good shit.

SkolarX (August 10, 2006)

you would be a fool to think that they don't

notfeelingcreative (August 10, 2006)

exactly

mikeinflames (August 10, 2006)

so i shouldn't talk about my plot to overthrow the white house with my army of loyal winged monkeys

notfeelingcreative (August 10, 2006)

Not unless you want your monkeys used in research experiments concerning the effects of napalm on winged monkeys!

Someone (August 11, 2006)

maybe he'll get lucky and that'll get cancelled too.

somegirl (August 10, 2006)

Just until Saturday? That's cold. Even CBGBs got a couple of months to try and sort out their funding.

Johnny_X (August 10, 2006)

yeah, except it wasn't the government funding cbgb's

drunkenriot (August 10, 2006)

someone's gotta have 70,000 they can loan them, c'mon where's AFI, Rise Against and Less Than Jake at?

Johnny_X (August 10, 2006)

I'm looking at you Anti-flag

Someone (August 10, 2006)

maybe if this was a hotline to help save suicidal animals they would pitch in,
but i think they're too busy fashioning their hair into perfect mohawks to donate

Someone (August 10, 2006)

AFI: no, Less Than Jake: no, Rise Against: no, Anti Flag: possibly.
eli

Someone (August 11, 2006)

How could anti flag possibly have more money than AFI or LTJ?

Scootz_McNasty (August 10, 2006)

i doubt any of those guys have 70,000.

baseball (August 10, 2006)

how about the Offspring

they gave away a million bucks on TRL or something, remember that

The4footpartysub (August 10, 2006)

i know fat mike has some mioney... lol

Someone (August 10, 2006)

AFI might.
eli

Someone (August 10, 2006)

I'm sure Vinnie from LTJ has way more than that. With his LTJ money, his FBR money, his Decaydance money, his Fall Out Boy money, his Panic At The Disco money, his Yellowcard money, his Jimmy Eat World money, that all adds up to a lot, I'm sure.

Someone (August 11, 2006)

I dont think you understand how a co/prez from FBR gets paid jackass.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Oh, yes. Let's hit up EVERY successful musician for 70 grand. Fool proof plan.

AnArchaeologist (August 10, 2006)

I'm looking at Tony Brummel.

Cheesetits (August 10, 2006)

You should look away, because the devil doesn't donate.

Dante3000 (rich) (August 10, 2006)

Well ya got to thin out the herd some how.
Honestly, this is insane. Why on earth would you shut down a NONPROFIT hotline that helps combat suicide? It's a fucking shame and I think it gives a real clear view on where peoples priorities lay.
-Dante

Kenjamin (August 10, 2006)

what could they possibly gain from getting access to confidential records from a suicide hotline?

Someone (August 10, 2006)

We could ship suicidal people off to Iraq... they want to die anyway, might as well be serving their country.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

We could ship suicidal people off to Iraq... they want to die anyway, might as well be serving their country.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

They're all potential suicide bombers, DUH.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

they want to become born against christians. seriously

ChokingVictim (August 10, 2006)

If this gets shut down, I am going to kill myself.

Wentz_Equals_Death (August 10, 2006)

you're saying what everyone's thinking

Someone (August 10, 2006)

lets do one of those mass suicide things.
eli

Someone (August 10, 2006)

man, that's already gunna happen
ya don't need to plan it out

Someone (August 11, 2006)

I am a counselor at a 24-hour crisis line which answers calls from people who call 1-800-SUICIDE, the Hopeline. We also answer calls for another national suicide hotline, 1-800-273-TALK, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Many crisis lines across this country answer for both of these national suicide hotlines. We are the same counselors, no matter which line you call. Your call is confidential and we care about the people who call it. I encourage you to consider calling 1-800-273-TALK when/if Hopeline shuts down. It has been said on several websites that if you call 1-800-273-TALK (the Lifeline), your information will be reported to the Federal govt. This is absolutely not true. I have been a crisis line counselor for over 20 years and I have talked with many sucidal people. We want you to call and talk with someone and not kill yourself. Your life is important

show rest of comment

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Where is the source for the part about the goverment trying to gain access to confidential records?

Fuzzy (justin) (August 10, 2006)

http://www.punknews.org/article/18926

Someone (August 10, 2006)

I do not see the source.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

It's state don the 1800Suicide website that the reason the government cut off their allocated funding is because they refused to turn over records.

iconoclast (August 10, 2006)

im confused..
so...patriot communications runs 1-800-SUICIDE? and they are making 1-800-SUICIDE to pay debts to the gov't?

dpotts (August 10, 2006)

Patriot provides the 800 number to 1-800-suicide. The Hope Line hasn't been able to pay the bill for that number.

Grantino (August 10, 2006)

tsk tsk, governement. fucking ridiculus.

jockmcbored (August 10, 2006)

US = paranoia state

Someone (August 10, 2006)

It's not paranoia, just mind boggling stupidity.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

BUSH HATES WHITE PEOPLE TOO?????? NO WAY!!!!
lets all pray to jesus

giant_robot (August 10, 2006)

save me jebus.

fritobandito (August 10, 2006)

helping save the lives of american kids = bad
helping destroy the lives of innocent muslim kids = good

I'm glad america has it's priorities straight.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

god bless america
now let's go burn all the churches with black/gay/female priests

sXenester (August 10, 2006)

hands-down headline of the week.

swingline (August 10, 2006)

fuck this. i'll continue to donate money to kids in other parts of the world who are just trying to SURVIVE. if these shitheads want to die in their suburban homes then go right the fuck ahead.

baseball (August 10, 2006)

i'm sure the families of confused, depressed youth who need somewhere to turn would agree with you

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Ever hear of clinical depression?

swingline (August 10, 2006)

yea i'm sure kids with a destroyed house and dead parents in third world countries never get depressed. shut up and think for a moment.

baseball (August 10, 2006)

gimme a break

so kids that are born into more privelages and better situations than others deserve to die, sounds like good logic to me

and there's a difference between 'getting depressed' and suffering from depression

swingline (August 10, 2006)

they don't deserve to die but they also don't deserve my limited amount of money. and i'm sure by giving them some counseling sessions and some expensive drugs will keep them alive and numb, for the time being, is a great use of my money. so, in conclusion, let's fuck the kids who don't have water to drink. i mean shit, they can't be depressed and there's no way they can have clinical depression, they proabably don't even have a clinic to get a diagnosis.

baseball (August 10, 2006)

what the hell are you talking about

and i'm sure by giving them some counseling sessions and some expensive drugs will keep them alive and numb, for the time being, is a great use of my money.
i don't understand what you're saying, how is donating money to a suicide hotline using your money to give kids counseling and drugs....

and keeping them alive and numb? while some people may be overmedicated, tons of people benefit greatly from those drugs and are able to live fulfilling lives...you make it sound like they're numb zombies

so, in conclusion, let's fuck the kids who don't have water to drink. i mean shit, they can't be depressed and there's no way they can have clinical depression, they proabably don't even have a clinic to get a diagnosis.
again, what are you talking about....no one is asking anyone to donate mon

show rest of comment

swingline (August 10, 2006)

it's YOUR logic that is skewed. I was speaking of suicide prevention programs as a whole, why would i not support a hotline but support their other means? i was hoping you could figure that one out on your own. look chief, in the real world, people have limited funds and do not donate to multiple organizations. so, what i'm saying is that if there's a choice to be made and your money could help save lives, you can help out a lot more people who are much more needy than anyone who has a phone or can reach for help through various means.

ElVaquero (August 10, 2006)

well swingy i agree with you in theory, but only because there's an overwhelming need to pour money into africa et al. but the government should be providing for basic social services like this, plain and simple, capitalism or socialism.

allison_le_gnome (August 10, 2006)

Did you forget to post anonymously or something?

baseball (August 10, 2006)

haha

swingline (August 10, 2006)

did you forget to contribute anything of importance?

EatTheMeek (August 10, 2006)

No, that was you.

swingline (August 10, 2006)

oh really. then maybe you should fill that void and hand down some lessons to enlighten me.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Some kids have dead parents and destroyed houses in the U.S..

So what's you're point?

swingline (August 10, 2006)

oh wow you really got me. i just realized conditions in the US are exactly the same as third world countries. sit down and be quiet.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Your right, the kids in africa have it unbelievably shitty, but what about kids who had their houses destroyed in Katrina, or even just people in the ghetto have it very bad.
eli

swingline (August 10, 2006)

do you know how many programs the government established to help the needy? even at their worst, it doesn't compare to a foreign government that has NO program to help anyone in need.

coffee_kid (August 10, 2006)

i'm sorry, but i don't see how we can pretend like we have the right to step in and tell a country how to treat it's people when we can't even keep the people in our own country above the poverty line. i care about the world, don't get me wrong. i recently donated money to savedarfur.org, but honestly. do you want someone who beats their children giving you tips on how to raise yours?

swingline (August 10, 2006)

there are kids that can't get essential nutrients in order to maintain their health and you're talking about the US poverty line?

Someone (August 10, 2006)

You need to start at home before you save the world. This is not a harsh right-wing statement I am making, but a realistic one as these are the people you have the best chance of helping, as well, how can you play hero if you can't get your own act together? America isn't going to be saving any third world country anytime soon when the country has racial disharmony (check out some Detroit statistics for a mindfuck) amongst other things. Afterall, the HDI on america is not top game as you may think (see: Scandanavia, Rep of Ireland, etc) and blah blah I'm tired.

swingline (August 10, 2006)

i'm not trying to transform their society into an utopia. i'm talking about feeding the hungry. what does racial discourse have to do with anything? and no, you don't have the best chance of saving lives by funding a hotline instead of putting food in starving mouthes.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

You missed the point. The idea is that you cannot fix the problems of other nations *completely* if you can't even fix your own.

coffee_kid (August 10, 2006)

you completely missed the point. if you're going to bitch about people trying to keep a non-profit hotline active that attempts to save lives, then bitch about the fact that the funds could be used on more useful things in america, rather than the rest of the world.

again, there's a thin line between being smart and being a fucking dolt. a genocide or something as extreme as that is a completely different story, but when we're just talking about poverty and hunger, then we need to focus on the homefront before we can go sticking our nose in other people's business about how they treat their citizens.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Thank you for reiterating my point :) Says I, Mr. Somebody.

swingline (August 10, 2006)

wow, i REALLY don't think neither of you two have been outside of a first world country nor have any knowledge about what life is like in a third world country. their misfortunes PALES in comparison to anything an american faces in the US. we're never going to fix the problems at home BUT our problems are far less severe than those in third world countries. these people are starving to death because they either can't afford it or there is no food on the market. can you even imagine that in the US? ok, let's talk about the homefront, poverty in the US. who are the most poor? the homeless. but starvation isn't even an issue for them.. the highest cause of death for the homeless is homicide, yet millions die each year due to the lack of clean water, basic nutrients and medical supplies. people in niger are eating LEAVES and GRASS to stay alive. i don't see how you can

show rest of comment

coffee_kid (August 10, 2006)

did i ever say anyone in america was having a harder time?

the correct answer is no, i did not. as a matter of fact, i think i might have said that i knew it was tougher outside america. but i could have just thought that. the point is, i never, ever tried to say that it was tougher living in america than anywhere else in the world. what i said is that america needs to focus on its own citizens' needs before it decides to take a stand on the world stage.

again, you're completely missing the point of that someone's and my own argument. we're not saying it's tougher in america than in third world countries. hell, we're not even saying it's tough. what we're saying is america needs to take care of its own citizens before it tries to step in to another country's affairs.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

but most kids that commit suicide are those little goth fags that are mad at their parents for not buying them that t-shirt at Hot Topic that they really really wanted, and can't learn how to suck it up when a jock calls them a faggot at school

(BTW: this all the kids OTHER than the ones with clinical depression)

allison_le_gnome (August 10, 2006)

You're an idiot.

Anyone with normal brain chemistry wouldn't be driven to suicide by something that trivial. Maybe to some sort of attention-getting attempt, if they're already a bit mentally unbalanced, but not to the point of actually going through with it.

And, that comment didn't even make sense. First you say that most kids who commit suicide do it for trivial reasons, but then you say that you're only talking about kids without clinical depression. Obviously, the vast majority of people who kill themselves are clinically depressed.

Someone (August 13, 2006)

You are one stupid, stereotypical motherfucker

Someone (August 10, 2006)

If your house burns down and kills your parents, it sucks no matter what country you're in. You can have shitty things happen to you anywhere.

I'm not saying helping out kids in Africa is a bad thing, or that the U.S. government shouldn't spend more money on helping them out, I just don't understand why you feel it necessary to try and trivialize the suffering of some kids because they live in America.

swingline (August 10, 2006)

well ofcourse it sucks but try to deal with that fact in a country where you will get no help from the government. i didn't mean to trivialize their problems. i'm only irritated because their situations are far less dire, yet they have had a lot of press coverage even on a punk news website while kids who are suffering in third world countries have received none. sure, it doesn't hit close to home but i just think they are far more deserving of your attention.

allison_le_gnome (August 10, 2006)

Helping anyone is still way better than helping no one.

swingline (August 10, 2006)

geez i'm not quite sure but i think that's a given

Someone (August 10, 2006)

"yet they have had a lot of press coverage even on a punk news website while kids who are suffering in third world countries have received none. sure, it doesn't hit close to home but i just think they are far more deserving of your attention."

I agree with that actually. Just keep in mind that kids with clinical depression in the first world haven't really done anything to deserve your insults.

notfeelingcreative (August 10, 2006)

Why don't you shut up you ignorant fuck?!!!! You obviously have no knowledge of psychology or mental health issues. It's great that you don't mind donating to kids in other countries who have fell on hard time, or are merely less fortunate, but there's no reasons to make assumptions on other people's lives. Some kids need mental help, if a non-profit helpline can talk one kids out of suicide, it's worth it.

swingline (August 10, 2006)

my assumptions of their lives? i assumed they want to die due to the fact that they're suicidal. i know, what a crrrrazy assumption. all i've suggested is that if you have a limited amount of money to donate, giving it to kids who don't have the necessities to sustain their health is a much better cause than maintaining a suicide hotline for kids in the US.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Ok, if you think the people who are suicidal should die fine, but think about the devastated families and friends as THEY bear the brunt. Some families can't afford funeral services, etc, and it is jsut an awful ordeal you can't image (and if you say you have been there, I am sure you are lying).

swingline (August 10, 2006)

gw? is that you? you're really dense and your assumptions, or in your case, telepathy, is ridiculous. and yea, the ramones and the clash are really juvenille and boring. your taste in music, no matter what it could be, is far superior and challenging.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

You have your audioscrobbler in your profile :)

swingline (August 10, 2006)

"(and if you say you have been there, I am sure you are lying)."

Someone (August 10, 2006)

PS your taste in music is boring. Turn 15.

notfeelingcreative (August 10, 2006)

" i assumed they want to die due to the fact that they're suicidal."

Actually they want to die because they're mentally ill! Nobody in their right mind usually wants to die, well unless you ask freud! If people really wanted to die, they'd just kill themselves, people who call these hotline or seek professional help usually do so as a last ditch effort, so that maybe they can save their lives. Don't get me wrong, I see what you're saying as far as giving money to people who are dying and don't have the resources to maintain health, before some spoiled suburban teens, that I kind of agree with. What I disagree with is your absolute diregard for people with mental illnesses who are mostly the people who are assisted through helplines like 1-800-suicide.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Check out suicide rates of teens in the US and then in Uganda or Liberia.

Someone (August 11, 2006)

people from all over the world are afflicted with depression, either way both children you're speaking of are "just trying to survive" in their respective enviroments.

mikeinflames (August 10, 2006)

only a person who did a shitload of coke and smoked a lot of pot could be as paranoid as mr. bush

Someone (August 10, 2006)

maybe it was the pretzel that he so wisely chocked on.
eli

Scootz_McNasty (August 10, 2006)

Nationalizing something like this won't help anything. I canonly see it making things worse (or just not any better)

Well. . .its only 2 more years I guess. I dont see any sort of impeachment coming anytime soon.

giant_robot (August 10, 2006)

and then four more years of what? I'm terrified.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

Six years into his presidency, he still manages to do something new every single week to make me realize what a truly awful human being is.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

you realize that Bush is not the only member of the federal government, right?

Someone (August 10, 2006)

but he is the 'decider' and the 'decider' should be held responsible for the whole's actions. That's the way any system works.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

you really don't know too much about our system of government, do you? that's ok, neither does most of the rest of the country.

giant_robot (August 10, 2006)

yeah, bush is just a puppet. couldn't you tell by that hand shoved up his ass?

baseball (August 10, 2006)

$68,000 is not an unreachable amount of money

everyone can donate something...this is pretty fucked up

skip chinese for dinner or drink 6 less beers this weekend and donate a few bucks

Someone (August 10, 2006)

agree'd!!!! i donated $40 today. anyone else?

Someone (August 10, 2006)

yeah, your definately right, 68 thousand is very reachable, how bout everyone on the org puts in 10 bucks?
eli

Someone (August 10, 2006)

See my post down, $20 right here. I hope these kids on this board stop whinign and donate, even a few bucks helps.

___waltz (August 11, 2006)

I donated $20. I want to know that if I ever get to that point, someone will be there to help.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

I love Chinese food.

This is a fine organization. I;m glad it exists and wouldn't make snide comments about people wanting to donate their money to it, but I can think of easily 25 NGOs that I'd donate to before this one.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

that really really sucks
So the Govt really could care less if anyone kills themselves or others.

Say one dude who could have called the number, but when its down, he wont be able to get help.
a month later, he decides to blow up a train station, thousands killed including himself.
What would the govt do? blame terrorists? Blame Twisted Sister?
or would they take the rap for fucking up suicidal people.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

They'll blame someone whose in there way and take em out. Thats what the american govt does.

oh and they kill babys in Iraq too.

NRO826 (August 10, 2006)

I hate hypotheticals like that...i'm a fan of what the hotline is attempting to do and support it fully, but to pretend that it being shut down will lead to horrible acts such as that is not a valid arguement for the hotline to stay open. The only valid arguement is that it may save the lives of the individuals trying to kill themselves.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

you kids can help by reposting this shit on your myspace bulletins etc. do it up and help out.

dpotts (August 10, 2006)

And while your at it why not email your Congressman and ask him to see where that $266,000 went.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

this is disgusting. that is all.

Someone (August 10, 2006)

I just donated $20 USD and I am Canadian (we have Kid's Help Phone and a few other services like this). $20 isn't much, so you can donate too.

Someone (August 11, 2006)

I hope everyone here who wants their voice heard has made a donation, signed the petition, or sent a letter to SAMHSA...Or all three. It's the only way to try and make a difference at this point.

riversmonkey (August 11, 2006)

Don't you americans have Samaritans ???

flamebaitnickloving (August 11, 2006)

let the kids kill themselves...god damn

Someone (August 11, 2006)

A suicide hotline is a pretty fucked up thing. I mean, I hate teenagers as much as the next guy, but we don't need a hotline to convince them to kill themselves

HATEHATEHATEHATEHATEHATEHATE