Facebook on Tuesday announced the launch of a service they want to keep suicidal thoughts away from the heads of its users. For now only available to users of English, the service will allow friends to report possible suicide-content posts to the site.
According to information released, the social network itself will be in contact with the depressed user through a message, offering the option to use the social network chat to chat in real time with a counselor.
The initiative, which has been in development since the beginning of the year, has the support of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, U.S.. According to Nicola Pecket, communication director for the UK charity Samaritans, who helped develop the tool but that has not been included in the new, expanding the service to other countries with the help of other NGOs is the "next step" of the service , told the BBC.
"One goal is to allow the person to receive expert help as soon as possible," said Fred Wolens, director of public policy social networking news agency Associated Press. The option has been added telephone services to assist suicides against that for years there including Brazil. "Many people tell us they need to talk to someone but do not want to have to make a phone call. Sending messages is ideal for these cases, "he said Lidia Bernik, Director of the National Suicide Prevention.
Since last year search engines like Google and Yahoo display means of contact with organizations fighting suicide every time a user uses words the risk in their searches.
According to information released, the social network itself will be in contact with the depressed user through a message, offering the option to use the social network chat to chat in real time with a counselor.
The initiative, which has been in development since the beginning of the year, has the support of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, U.S.. According to Nicola Pecket, communication director for the UK charity Samaritans, who helped develop the tool but that has not been included in the new, expanding the service to other countries with the help of other NGOs is the "next step" of the service , told the BBC.
"One goal is to allow the person to receive expert help as soon as possible," said Fred Wolens, director of public policy social networking news agency Associated Press. The option has been added telephone services to assist suicides against that for years there including Brazil. "Many people tell us they need to talk to someone but do not want to have to make a phone call. Sending messages is ideal for these cases, "he said Lidia Bernik, Director of the National Suicide Prevention.
Since last year search engines like Google and Yahoo display means of contact with organizations fighting suicide every time a user uses words the risk in their searches.
