As Newsweek reported: – In 2013, a short time before 16-year-old Adrian Alvaresz took his own life during lunchtime in the courtyard of his high school in Texas, he posted a warning on Facebook: “I don’t know if this is going to affect people or if ya’ll are even going to care but I just want to say I’m taking my life away.” He asked his friends to care for his mother, as well as his ex-girlfriend and young son. Along with the message, he posted a photo of himself holding a gun to his cheek. –
The social media giant now wants to make it easier for people who might be at risk to get help.
You can report suicidal content here.
‘Facebook Safety’ Posted the following message:
Keeping you safe is our most important responsibility on 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.
We worked with mental health organizations Forefront, Now Matters Now, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Save.org
and others on these updates, in addition to consulting 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. We have 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.
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.
These updates will roll out to everyone who uses Facebook in the U.S. over the next couple of months. We’re also working to improve our tools for those outside the U.S.
Breaking911 cares. No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area,anytime 24/7.
