Facebook Suicide Prevention Tools: Anti Self-Harm Features Debuted For 148 Million Indian Users [VIDEO]
With a user base of more than 1.65 billion, Facebook stands as one of the most notable ways for people to express themselves today. With suicide rates going up across the world, the social media giant has opted to take a more direct approach in fighting this alarming, tragic trend. In an announcement on Tuesday, Facebook unveiled a series of tools that would enable users to give aid to those who are at risk of self-harm.
The new features, which include the ability to report alarming status updates to trained professionals, has been warmly received by the social media community, especially in countries such as India, a nation where 148 million Facebook users reside. During the past few years, the suicide rate in the Asian country has spiked up; thus, the introduction of Facebook's anti-suicide features was greatly embraced.
Despite the alarming suicide rates in the country, Ankhi Das, Public Policy Director, Facebook, India, South and Central Asia, stated that people usually do not know what to do when faced with a friend who is at risk of self-harm, mainly due to the fact that talking about such topics are usually considered taboo in the country.
"Often, friends and family who are the observers in these types of situations don't know what to do. They're concerned, but they're worried about saying the wrong thing or somehow making it worse," Das said.
"Socially, mental illness and thoughts about suicide are just not something we talk about. Facebook is a place where people connect and share, and one of the things we have learned from the mental health partners and academics we have worked with on this issue, is that being connected is a protective factor in suicide prevention," Das added.
The new Facebook tools are pretty easy to use. Once a user spots an alarming post, all he or she needs to do is to simply report it to the social media giant. Once the report is filed, Facebook would immediately contact the person at risk, giving them options to talk about their problems. Several tips on how to make oneself feel better are also included.
