The San
Francisco social network's new system allows concerned friends to to
report content for review, and Facebook can then offer the user more
help.
Facebook has rolled out a new system to try and identify and help users having suicidal thoughts.
It allows concerned friends to report content for review.
After
reviewing a report and confirming that it may indicate suicidal
feelings in a user, Facebook will send that user notifications stating
that a friend has attempted to help and offering access to suicide
prevention resources.
The
tools build on a reporting feature implemented in 2011, which passed
details to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the US, and the
Samaritans in the UK.
'Keeping you safe is our most important responsibility on Facebook,' said Rob Boyle of Facebook.
'Today,
at our fifth Compassion Research Day, we announced updated tools that
provide more resources, advice and support to people who may be
struggling with suicidal thoughts and their concerned friends and family
members.'
The
firm said it had worked with mental health organizations Forefront, Now
Matters Now, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Save.org and
others on the updates, and consulted with people who had lived
experience with self-injury or suicide.
'One of the
first things these organizations discussed with us was how much
connecting with people who care can help those in distress.
'If someone on Facebook sees a direct threat of suicide, we ask that they contact their local emergency services immediately.
'We also ask them to report any troubling content to us.'
Facebook has set up teams working around the world, 24/7, who review any report that comes in.
They prioritize the most serious reports, like self-injury, and send help and resources to those in distress.
+3
The firm said it had worked with
mental health organizations Forefront, Now Matters Now, the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Save.org and others on the updates, and
consulted with people who had lived experience with self-injury or
suicide.
For
those who may need help we have significantly expanded the support and
resources that are available to them the next time they log on to
Facebook after we review a report of something they’ve posted.
Besides
encouraging them to connect with a mental health expert at the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline, we now also give them the option of
reaching out to a friend, and provide tips and advice on how they can
work through these feelings.
All of these resources were created in conjunction with our clinical and academic partners.
We’re
also providing new resources and support to the person who flagged the
troubling post, including options for them to call or message their
distressed friend letting them know they care, or reaching out to
another friend or a trained professional at a suicide hotline for
support.
