With the onslaught of cyberbullying over the past decade, people are using social media to share their distress with others, even using the medium to say goodbye when considering suicide. Yesterday, Facebook announced that it would be working with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to help users who are considering suicide. The two have been working together since 2006, but this marks the first time that chat sessions with crisis counselors will be available through the social media site.
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Users will be able to enter into a chat with a suicide prevention specialist by clicking on a link. A reporting link is also available for others to report situations where a friend may be in trouble. When that link is clicked, Facebook will send a message referring the person to Lifeline. The service is more of an online community effort than an attempt by Facebook to keep track of suicidal users. Facebook and Lifeline are only alerted when a user or their friend reports something -- only then can either company offer help.
Via: Washington Post
Credit: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Tags: Communication, Death and Dying, Gadgets, Green Building, Health
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