Report Suicidal Posts on Facebook and Save Lives!

Facebook posts tell a lot about what a person is thinking, feeling and how his/her life is playing out. Sometimes it happens that we see some posts which clearly show that the person is going through a bad time in life. You may not know how to tackle this if you aren’t in direct contact with that friend or if you are unable to reach that person.

Facebook has launched a new tool that will allow its users to make a difference in that someone’s life.

Users accessing this tool will be able to flag a post as troubling. After this, a dedicated team at Facebook will review the post and contact the individual. Apart from this, the user who had reported the post will also receive suggestions on how to help the person in need or receive support for the emotional distress of encountering a friend or loved one who is suicidal. [1]

The process of flagging is very simple, and takes only a few taps on your smartphone’s screen.

You start by flagging a post by clicking or tapping on the arrow in the top-right corner of the post. Next, you may choose from the following options:
• Select “I think it shouldn’t be on Facebook.”
• Select “It’s hurtful, threatening or suicidal.”
• Select “I think they might hurt themselves.”

Users can read through the “What you can do” screen, which offers tips on how you can help the distressed person in question. On the bottom of this screen, there is an option to request Facebook to look at the post.

As an alternative, you can also send a message to the friend, or a mutual friend and communicate with the depressed person directly. Facebook also offers an option to chat one on one with a trained helper for advice on how to take care of the situation.

A team of individuals at Facebook, are working around the clock to monitor and review these requests.

But obviously, as Jason Cipriani of Cnet says,
“It should go without saying, but if you see a post where someone is directly threatening suicide you shouldn’t use Facebook’s new tool. You should immediately pick up your phone and alert the proper authorities to get the individual some help”.