Suicidal Thoughts and Finding Help: How a Crisis Line Saved My Life

Corinne never thought she would be the one to dial a suicide hotline. A journalist, wife, and mother surrounded by loved ones, she believed crisis lines were for “other people.” But when depression convinced her family would be better off without her, she found herself on the edge of acting on those thoughts.

In this episode, Corinne shares how picking up the phone and calling a crisis line saved her life. She opens up about the lies depression tells, the shame that keeps people silent, and the moment she realized there were compassionate listeners ready to help.

This story is a reminder that suicidal thoughts don’t always look how we imagine—and that crisis lines are for anyone in need of support, whether or not you’re suicidal.

Link to Corinne's article: https://qz.com/1381952/suicide-hotlines-really-do-save-lives-i-know-because-one-saved-mine/

Link to 988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

Primary Topics Covered

• Corinne’s lived experience with depression and suicidal thoughts
• Misconceptions about who crisis lines are “for”
• The lies depression tells: secrecy, shame, and distorted thinking
• How medication changes during pregnancy triggered relapse
• Why people mask depression while appearing “fine” externally
• The moment suicidal thoughts escalated into a plan
• What actually happens when you call a crisis line (and what to expect)
• The importance of language in asking for help (“psychological emergency”)
• Why crisis lines are for anyone in distress, not just those suicidal
• Recovery as an ongoing process: therapy, medication, and support

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and episode introduction  
02:13 – Corinne’s story: never imagining she’d call a crisis line  
03:11 – Depression’s lies: “You’re a burden”  
04:12 – Shame and silence vs. privacy and trust  
05:08 – Stopping medication during pregnancy and relapse risk  
05:50 – Masking depression: appearing fine while falling apart  
07:22 – Protective factors falling away: therapy, meds, support  
08:07 – Depression convincing her that dark thoughts were “truths”  
08:59 – Suicidal thoughts intensify: family would be better off without her  
09:32 – Making a plan, then realizing she couldn’t follow through  
10:05 – Calling the crisis line: what actually happened  
10:53 – Being told to say: “I’m having a psychological emergency”  
11:36 – Why words and language are powerful in getting help  
12:10 – What to expect: brief holds and call routing explained  
13:14 – Crisis lines as a 24/7 tool for anyone in distress  
13:49 – Recovery isn’t instant: therapy, medication, and daily effort  
14:27 – Closing reflections and gratitude for crisis line staff  

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