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The idea that radio talkback shows receive a large number of calls from distraught people is "a bit of a myth," according to Jeremy Parkinson, head talkback producer at Radio Live.
Public interest in the types of calls talkback stations receive comes following yesterday morning's drama, when members of the public saved a distressed caller's life after she rang Leighton Smith at Newstalk ZB.
Mr Parkinson said his own experience with taking calls from distraught people was many years ago and it was a misnomer they were a common occurence.
"Over the years I've had a few people ringing claiming they are going to commit suicide and I've really had to say to them, 'Look I'm a talkback producer here, I don't know what you expect from me, here's the number for the life line and here's some other numbers you can call, good luck to you'."
Mr Parkinson said Radio Live did not have a policy for dealing with suicidal callers but did have a folder with emergency service and help line numbers incase something did happen.
"If something like this did happen our first option probably wouldn't be to take the call to air.
"It's our first job as producer of the show to make sure the person wants to participate and is going to be talking about the sorts of things the host of the show is discussing."
However, Mr Parkinson acknowledged situations like that at Newstalk ZB yesterday could eventuate and said he was pleased at the positive outcome: "Good on [Leighton's] listeners for saving the lady."
In the United Kingdom, a radio host for Radio City 96.7, Pete Price, abandoned his midweek show in February 2004 to go to the aid of a 13-year-old caller who was threatening to kill himself.
He managed to keep the teenager talking for 45 minutes before meeting him.
