News reports over the past few years have made a few allusions to the fact that a lot of people, especially young people, offer clues to their mental state on their Facebook page before taking their own life. Also aware of that that fact is Facebook itself, who has just announced a new tool to help Facebook users who are considering suicide and also a way for those that see the signs on a users Facebook page.
Up to now, Facebook, like Yahoo and Google has tried to help those it sees at risk by offering up, unsolicited, the phone number of a suicide prevention hotline and in some cases even suggested to those “friended” on such a users account, that they contact the police or other health officials.
The new tool takes helping at-risk users by giving them a forum for voicing their feelings via a special chat area.
Facebook says that it’s research has shown that the most important thing anyone can do when finding someone else is at risk of harming themselves, is to open a line of communication that will allow that person to express their frustrations, anger, resentment or whatever else it is that is driving them to thoughts of killing themselves.
The way the new tool works is, anyone who spots any sign that they feel means a person is in a self-harming state of mind, can send an instant message to Facebook using a new link next to the current comment box; Facebook will then post a message to that person indicating that someone is worried about them and has sent a message letting Facebook now about it. In the message, the person is also encouraged to either call a health professional or to click on a link that will start the confidential suicide chat session.
Facebook says that they believe this approach will work because they themselves clearly are not able to read every user page to see if someone is heading into a dark area. Thus, allowing friends, or even acquaintances who come upon a user page that has any sort of message hinting at trouble, can send a message that will also be anonymous, thus, making it easier for them to intervene without worry of blow-back by the user if they feel they’ve been unduly targeted.
Facebook says it believes that it’s important that they as a responsible corporate entity and everyone else, take suicide hints seriously, as nearly 100 people in America take their own lives, every single day.