so removing one is a big cost
I wasn't suggesting banning users contemplating suicide. (Do any sites do that? Is it a good idea?)
Lots of reports suggests that suicide hotlines aren't actually much better than random like-minded people, though it's possible that callers underestimate how helpful they were. And contacting locals is among the most likely strategies to backfire.
Are these claims research-based?
I want research, too, but in lieu of that, I second "lots of reports". Also, consider this reality:
Imagine you tell someone that you're thinking about killing yourself. Say this person decided to call 911, and you end up admitted into the mental ward of a hospital.
Unless you have very good insurance (or something has changed), they're likely to let you out in a week. I've heard of this happening to countless people. It is simply too expensive to keep them in there very long.
So, a week later, you've:
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post, even in Discussion, it goes here.