Samaritans joins forces with Facebook
Samaritans is partnering with Facebook to launch a digital service for users to raise the alarm if they are concerned that friends on the social network are in need of help.
Facebook users that are concerned that an online friend may be feeling suicidal, can use the Samaritans’ Facebook Help Centre to alert the social network to content such as status updates or wall posts that indicate that there might be something wrong.
Facebook will then put the Samaritans in touch with the at risk user.
The digital link up with Facebook extends Samaritans confidential service to the person raising their concerns.
The charity is also running an awareness campaign through its Facebook page giving users advice on how to support vulnerable friends by identifying signs of distress and how to ask friends if there is a problem.
The campaign will be backed by a number of celebrities including Stephen Fry, pop star Eliza Doolittle and The Wire actor Dominic West.
