During Teen Suicide Awareness Week, Facebook has implemented new tools to help teenagers exhibiting suicidal tendencies.
The social network has been a tool for cyber-bullies since the site went public almost a decade ago, but recently, an increase in stories of teenagers reporting such bullying have been appearing across the world.
As recently as January 30, The Star reported on a Krugersdorp High School girl who faced online bullying that eventually led to a physical attack with a glass bottle.
The 15-year-old attacker had allegedly been picking on her victim for months, with numerous cruel posts and comments on Facebook and the BlackBerry Messenger service.
Stories such as these have become more common in recent years, with several tragic stories of teenage suicide emerging, sometimes as a direct result of online bullying.
But now it is possible to report “suicidal content” to Facebook’s administrators, who can then alert the appropriate authorities.
This can give users a direct link to online help from counsellors. “The safety of the people who use Facebook is of paramount importance to us, and we hope that by partnering with safety organisations around the world we can best provide the help our users need,” said Facebook international communications director Debbie Frost.
“Friends who are concerned about a loved one are able to report suicidal behaviour by clicking the report links next to any piece of content on the site and choosing suicidal content under the harmful behaviour option,” said Facebook spokesman Frederic Wolens.
“Facebook then e-mails the user in distress with resources and information about the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) – for users in South Africa.”
This service is now open to South African Facebook users with links to the Sadag website www.sadag.org and its toll-free crisis line.
More than 800 million people worldwide use Facebook.
According to Sadag, suicide is a growing problem globally, and an increasing number of people are turning to their Facebook friends for help.
Worried friends who report the distraught postings on Facebook can trigger an alert that encourages a user to call a counsellor.
They will also receive a message to say it is being addressed.
All reporting on the site is done anonymously, and so a distressed user won’t know who reported the suicidal content.
These reports are considered high priority and are monitored seven days a week.
“People who are feeling like there is no hope or feeling suicidal may go online for help first,” says Sadag’s founder Zane Wilson.
“Being part of the Suicide Prevention Agency Network means that people needing someone to talk to can connect with us very quickly.
“We know how important it is to be available very swiftly and that suicidal feelings aren’t experienced only during office hours,” says Wilson.
Currently, Sadag’s call centre closes at 8pm, with emergency numbers available thereafter.
Suicide rates in SA are on the increase, with an estimated 23 people committing suicide daily and about 230 attempted suicides every day, according to leading suicidologist Professor Lourens Schlebusch.
Throughout the week, Sadag counsellors will be visiting schools across Gauteng to speak to pupils about teenage suicide.
Any schools that would like a visit from Sadag can contact them on their toll-free hotline 0800 567 567. - The Star