“We’re not asking because we don’t care what the answer is.”

I want to preface my reply with a couple of things.

1. Everything I have said and will say is in good faith. If I suggest something, the only intent is to help. There are no secret meanings.

2. I struggle with severe depression and suicidality, and I am a 988 user. I am very sensitive to the issue of unwanted, potentially deadly “help” showing up after reaching out.

Okay. I got the impression from your initial post that you might have been trolling 988 or doing something else other than seeing help. The impression was reinforced by the counselor appearing to get the same vibe.

I have had the experience of trying to communicate something to a therapist/social worker, being misunderstood, and finding that multiple people are misinterpreting me in the same way. Do you think it’s possible that you may have been expressing your emotions and need in a way that someone else might interpret as hostile?

On the subject of staying safe from interaction with police, I am conflicted. I think it is appropriate for a crisis counselor to call 911 as a last resort. If someone is in such an intense crisis that she cannot/ will not consent to the help she needs to save her life, then brief involuntary treatment is probably the right thing.

Even if I need hospitalization, accepting help getting to it has risks. The crisis counselor may want to call an ambulance to take me. If so, the cops may respond to ensure that the paramedics are safe. We all have our own thoughts about that part. I choose to avoid that kind of involuntary interaction. I turn off my location service and connect to the chat over a VPN.

I don’t have enough information to form an opinion about that, so rather than form a baseless opinion, I’m asking about your intent.

So, I have a question. Were you reaching out because you were experiencing a personal emotional crisis and looking for support, or were you simply trolling a crisis line?

Dark humor is a coping mechanism. It’s a positive thing, I believe. As for what she is coping with - who knows?

Maybe she is struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Maybe it’s an awareness of the meaninglessness of life. Maybe she has had to adapt to working or living in close contact with mortality: exposure to war, working in healthcare, etc…

I think the most important part is that she is coping.

In the absence of other signs that she might be in danger or is acting out of character, I would not be concerned.