Facebook is to roll out suicide prevention tools in the UK following successful trials in the US and Australia. The tools will allow users to notify Facebook if a friend seems to be in serious distress.
The tool, which has been built in consultation with Samaritans, will allow users to do a number of things -- report content to Facebook or reach out to friends. If you report worrying content, users will be sent a notification asking them whether they need support from a friend or helpline, and will be given tips and advice on how to deal with suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self harm. Those who report explicit threats of suicide will be given the number for emergency services, while less serious content will be flagged to Facebook.
"We worked with organisations including Samaritans to develop these tools, and one of the first things they told us was how much connecting with people who care can help those who are struggling to cope – whether offline or online," said Julie De Bailliencourt, head of safety at Facebook.
"People use Facebook to connect with friends and family, and that’s why we’re evolving the support, resources and advice available to people who are in distress and their concerned friends and family members."
"People use Facebook to connect with friends and family, and that’s why we’re evolving the support, resources and advice available to people who are in distress and their concerned friends and family members."
It's not the first time Samaritans has teamed up with a social networking site. In 2014, the charity launched an initiative with Twitter which flagged "worrying tweets" to the service -- a tool that was pulled after "serious concerns were raised by some people with mental health conditions using Twitter".
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