Suicide Hotlines

Well I have to give my debate tomorrow on how hot lines are good and explain that they accomplish positive results. BUT...I am having a hard time with my research. Everywhere I look I find critics, people who say that they have called and nothing has changed( yet they are still alive). Or they say that the hot line workers were to nosey(What did they expect when they call like that?). Some say that all the hot line did was recommend counseling and not try to help them through the situation at hand. In my research I found nothing about the practice "norms" of handling the phone calls, although every place has a basic generic set of guidelines to follow. The only positive feed back i received was from people who actually worked at a hot line crisis center. They all can recall at least one instance when they have talked some one down or eased someones pain. I personally believe that the hot lines do serve a purpose and that they do have the ability to help in a very desperate situation. More education to the public about the hot lines is key, maybe if more people knew how easily accessible this resource was they may not hesitate to call.