I agree it wasn't the best move for him to call 911. I believe he tried calling an existing crisis hotline first and that it wasn't answering.

For reference:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255

Also, I've linked to the Metanoia site for years. It's more than a suicidal person would want to read in the moment, but it is chock full of resources for anyone who might be in a position to help someone else.

Thanks, bonny. The cops have left but now he's so angry and bitter about the whole thing that he doesn't want to call *any* hotline. Online folks are trying to reason with him, but I'm doubtful he'll be open to it. I don't think he's suicidal. I think he's very depressed. He's a caretaker for his gf, who is pretty severely disabled, so that's stressful. On top of it all he's had to declare bankruptcy. It just sucks.

ETA: It turns out the hotlines he spoke to told him to call 911. Jeez...

Peeking out from crazy/busy time to hurl some ~ma beth's way for her interview and give a big squishy, groping hug to my Bitches.

Barb! How is everything going with Stars?

Yikes, Maybe don't call the police when you're depressed.

Yeah. The cops would not be who I would call for depression where the person isn't being a threat to others.

Obviously, calling 911 is not the right thing to do, but how tragic that someone who is seeking help for themselves or someone else ends up with that kind of response.

Barb! How is everything going with Stars?

Highs and lows-- mostly highs. So far, the reviews have been great (although I'm still hoping that freakin' Publisher's Weekly will review the thing), and I was struck absolutely dumb by a reader review on amazon. Normally, I don't even check there, because, you know, amazon, but someone alerted me to it, saying perhaps I should offer to bear this woman's children. *g*

On the down side, however, I went into one of my local BN stores and they didn't have any and when I asked, Little Dude told me they didn't appear to have any on order or any intention of ordering any even after I told him I was the author and local and blah, blah, blah, although he was happy enough to declare, "but we've got plenty of 'em sittin' in the warehouse!"

No, I didn't reach out and cheerfully strangle him-- aren't y'all proud of me?

The other local stores I've hit have distressingly few copies-- one or two at most. The exception is my local indie which had four out and will have many more for my signing next week. So I have to really hope that people come out for that (I feel like the freakin' Town Crier) and justify their decision to host me for a signing.

Ah, the glamorous life of a published author!

Yeah. I just heard from a second person that suicide hotlines have advised him to call 911. Pretty bad advice, if you ask me.