Posted on 02/05/2009 11:57:37 PM PST by raccoonradio
Howie Carr does indeed have a heart.
The hardboiled WRKO radio host and Herald columnist tried to dissuade a female caller - distraught over the bleak economy - from killing herself, divulging that his own grandfather committed suicide during the Depression.
The caller, who identified herself as 54-year-old “Carol,” told Carr during yesterday’s show that she moved to Jonesport, Maine, three years ago, bought a $59,000 house and had been trying to get a job, without success.
In a stunning on-air admission, “Carol” revealed that she swallowed 100 pills in a suicide attempt last February when she was about to lose her home. Her daughter from Montana showed up “out the blue” and “saved my life,” according to an audiotape of the show.
Ever since, her two daughters have been paying her mortgage and other bills. “And now, they’re so strapped out from helping me that I am right back where I was last February and seriously contemplating suicide,” said “Carol.”
“Don’t kill yourself, Carol,” Carr said. “It’s always a bad mistake to kill yourself, Carol. I’m serious about that. Your family never recovers from a suicide.”
“Carol” became emotional during the 3 minute call, saying she was “burdening” her family.
Carr talked with her a bit longer before moving on to other callers. But his listeners wanted to stay on the subject, with several trying to pursuade Carol not to take her life.
Carr told listeners that he’s made jokes about it in the past but that his grandfather killed himself in 1931 during the Depression. “The family basically never recovered,” Carr said.
It turned out an agent with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was listening to Carr’s show, and police were quickly dispatched to Carol’s home.
Reached yesterday, “Carol,” whose name the Herald is withholding, said she had called Carr’s show because “I feel like nobody’s listening to me.”
As the economy continues to tank, experts predict radio hosts could be fielding more calls from suicidal listeners.
“When people are pushed into extreme situations they look for a lifeline, and that can be a favorite radio personality,” said Tom Taylor, news editor of Radio-Info.com.
Last week, Orlando radio personality “Buckethead” helped lead the cops to a suicidal caller.
As for Carr, he noted, “You just have to avoid being wise” with suicidal listeners.
When he realized “Carol” was distraught, he said, “You just want to try to talk her down.”
have you tried WCRN 830 out of Worcester? 50,000 watts. Or WGAN 560 in Portland ME. He’s also on WNTK in Lake Sunapee
region (AM 1490/FM 99.7). Maybe even WVMT in Burl VT,
AM 620, might be poss. to pick up. Not sure where you are
Many years ago, the middle-aged Village President (an executive with Johnson & Johnson and a friend of mine) jumped out of the rear seat of a moving car occupied by himself and friends. He survived.
Months later, his wife noticed some liquid of a certain color running out from under the locked bathroom door and called for help. He had done the wrist bit, but survived after a hospital stay.
The third and last time, a year later, and even after lots of counselling, he drove from his suburban home to a deserted Lake Michigan beach near downtown Chicago and walked into the water till his hat floated. They found his body days later miles away.
Three times lucky. Where there's a will there's a way. Suicidals usually don't call talk show hosts if they're deadly serious although there certainly are exceptions to any rule.
Leni
not sure I remember that but there have indeed been calls like that on HC’s show once in awhile! And for those like me who’ve met Howie at remotes (gas station in Saugus) and
book signings (Paper Store in Beverly), we know he’s a nice
and decent man. He did the right thing!
Way to go, Howie!!
Yeah, I heard it, too. Howie did a good job.
The caller who followed this suicidal woman also gave what I thought were very cogent reasons against suicide. So cogent, in fact, that I wondered whether Sandy had contacted a suicide counselor in the background to help intervene.
Howie’s talking about it now...his daughter said it was actually a week ago yesterday because Thursdays are when
she does her homework. “I swear I did not shop this story to the newspapers. This happens once in awhile to talk show hosts. They seem in control but once they get on the air
they lose it...she (Jessica) wanted to write it up and they wanted me to write a column about it”
About to play it now.
I recorded it just now on freecorder and uploaded; may not be best quality. The call is also on the Herald’s site
http://raccoonradio.freehostia.com/howiecall.mp3
Amazing. If they had called a liberal talk show host then they would have been instructed to go to get assisted suicide.
Depends. Many people just want help but if they don’t get it in time, suicide starts to look like the only alternative.
As did I. Jonesport is a small place and they should easily be able to identify this woman and get her help. There is a Wesleyan Church there and I’d be surprised if they cannot get her what she needs. Her $441 a month mortgage cannot be that huge. As a side note, I did not hear if Avi will be filling in next week. I hope it is not Todd, Butchie or “the fading beauty” or I may consider suicide.
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