(12/19/2011)

By Katherine Hobson
The Wall Street Journal
December 14, 2011

Can Facebook help prevent suicides? The social-networking behemoth is launching a new feature that will let users connect their Facebook friends with suicide-prevention support services. As this announcement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes it, if users see a comment from a friend that seems to threaten suicide, they can report the comment to Facebook, which will deliver an email encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or to click on a link for an online Facebook chat with a crisis worker.

View the full Wall Street Journal article: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2011/12/13/facebook-lets-users-chat-with-suicide-prevention-counselors/?blog_id=10&post_id=48746

Keywords: Facebook, users, chat, suicide prevention, counselors