Facebook introduces suicide prevention tools for live video and Messenger

Facebook has introduced new tools to prevent suicides. The additional capabilities are available in live video, in Messenger, and streamlined reporting of posts supported by artificial intelligence. Facebook has also made it easier for concerned users and friends of troubled parties to reach out or report. Messenger now has live chat from crisis support organisations.

The integrated suicide prevention tools for Facebook posts are now available on Facebook Live Video. People watching the video can reach out to the person directly, or report the post to Facebook. It is also providing resources to the people who report, to help their friends. These resources include information on what approaches are most likely to work, get support from another friend, reach out to a support helpline or in the worst case scenario, capability to directly initiate contact with emergency services.

Facebook has also launched a video campaign with information on how users can help friends in need. Facebook’s crisis support partners can be directly contacted over Facebook Messenger. Zendesk has donated some of their backend tools to allow Facebook to make the integration possible. The Messenger integration is in its test phase, and Facebook plans to get more crisis support organisations on board. Facebook intends to ensure there is adequate capacity to handle any volume of communication.

Facebook has trained machines to recognise posts that have content on self-harm or suicide based on patterns of previous posts that have been reported for suicide. Even if an individual has not reported a post, Facebook’s own Community Operations team will directly reach out to the individual if the artificial intelligence detects suicidal tendencies. The streamlined reporting for suicide related posts has been initiated as a test in the United States, and will soon expand to other regions according to Facebook.

There are mechanisms already in place to report alarming posts, and Facebook has dedicated teams around the world that prioritise serious reports such as those related to suicides. Suicide prevention tools have been available on Facebook for over ten years now, and in 2016 Facebook had over 70 partners around the world.

There is one death by suicide in the world every forty seconds, and suicide is the second biggest cause of death for 15 to 29 year olds.