Facebook establishes link to report suicidal comments

BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

Facebook has established a reporting mechanism for people posting messages alluding to suicide.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline collaborated with Facebook to help those in crisis. In partnership with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook, using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site.

The page states that if you have encountered a direct threat to contact law enforcement or a suicide hotline, but the page allows you to enter information about your email address, the name of the person who posted the content, a Web address leading to the profile or search listing, and additional relevant information.

The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an email from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Lauren Balkan, the program director for Pathways, a school-based youth services program in Carteret, said that Facebook is an outlet for teens, just because of how times have changed.

“I think that kids are using Facebook constantly. This is part of their everyday lives. They share an awful lot of their thoughts and feelings in their status updates,” she said.

However, feelings of depression, anxiety, hopelessness and/or thoughts of hurting themselves have to be dealt with via any facet that youths are using to expressing themselves, she said, be it through writing, music or talking to their peers. She said in her school district, anyone who seems remotely suicidal is referred for a psychiatric evaluation and full assessment.

“Anyplace kids are, there should be people listening,” she said. “If it’s on Facebook, then that’s another avenue to [provide] help.”

Balkan also stressed that adolescents often do not want to violate the trust of their peers and seek help for friends who may be experiencing social or emotional issues.

“Truly, from experience, while in the moment a person who is suicidal is mad, in the long run it is always the right thing to do,” she said of seeking help. “Down the road, they’re always appreciative. … Getting people involved is really important.”