Facebook Puts Users On Suicide Watch

Mark Wilson writes A few months ago Twitter was criticized for teaming up with suicide prevention charity Samaritans to automatically monitor for key words and phrases that could indicate that someone was struggling to cope with life. Despite the privacy concerns that surrounded Samaritans Radar, Facebook has decided that it is going to launch a similar program in a bid to prevent suicides. Working with mental health organizations including Forefront, Now Matters Now, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and Save.org, Facebook aims to provide greater help and support for anyone considering suicide or self-harm.

Comments

the lighter side of suicide

[swell]

People take this so seriously. Yes, families and friends may be saddened by a suicide. If the deceased is a celebrity, there will be headlines. But really let's look at the big picture.

What is it- 7 billion people we have now? Maybe 1 billion who are starving, diseased, who have no hope for a full life? Even in the 'First World' there are thousands of homeless parents and children. We are killing hundreds, perhaps thousands each day with war, violence and mayhem. We are killing more with ordinary traffic and other accidents.

But some poor soul in the First World, who had opportunities, family and friends decides to off him/herself and it's a tragedy? It's only because we see ourselves in that person, and we don't see ourselves in the billion who are starving.

Lighten up, people. Just because we have money and computers and a decent car to drive to the club, doesn't mean that our lives are worth more than that billion. If you really want to shed a tear ...