WEDNESDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Facebook is using its civil-networking prowess to help prevent suicides in the United States and Canada.

The position is launching a service that testament allow users to report a suicidal remark they see posted on Facebook using one and the other a special "Report Suicidal Content" constituent piece or on the report links from beginning to end the site. The person who well-informed the worrisome comment will immediately admit an email from Facebook encouraging them to cry the toll-free U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) or to ratchet on a chat session with a pass worker.

Both options are available 24/7 and afford free, confidential counseling to anyone in exigency.

The Lifeline, which has answered greater degree than 3 million calls since it was launched in 2005, is funded ~ means of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered ~ means of Link2Health Solutions, a subsidiary of the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC).

Currently, the Lifeline even now responds to dozens of people harvested land day who have expressed suicidal thoughts attached Facebook, according to a SAMHSA intelligence release.

John Draper, the Lifeline's design director and vice president of crisis and behavioral health technology at MHA-NYC, said in the SAMHSA release that, "We get been partnering with Facebook since 2006 to succor at-risk users and are thrilled to descant this new service."

And according to Associated Press, lives be seized of already been saved in this practice: In July, for example, police intervened to relieve prevent a man from killing himself following a friend living in California alerted them to distressing postings in successi~ Facebook.

"Although the Lifeline on average handles 70,000 calls per month, we require heard from our Facebook fans and others that in that place are many people in crisis who put on't feel comfortable picking up the phone. This starting a~ service provides a way for them to possess the help they need in the highroad they want it," Draper added.

"Identification of those at danger is the cornerstone to suicide hindrance," said Kelly Posner, director of the Center despite Suicide Risk Assessment at Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute. "Facebook's innovative services qualify concerned users, or 'friends,' to happen immediately and initiate this life-economical identification process. Reaching people through venues that they exercise and providing them with referrals is ~y important and encouraging step in the lawful direction."

Joe Sullivan, chief security officer for Facebook, said the company is "self-conscious" of the new effort. "The Lifeline's giving in adhesion to suicide prevention has enabled race on Facebook to get fast, meaningful assistant when they need it most, and we observe forward to continuing our work through them to help save lives," he uttered.

And U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin too applauded the launch of the employment. "Facebook and the Lifeline are to have ~ing commended for addressing one of this people's most tragic public health problems," she related in the release. "Nearly 100 Americans die through suicide every day -- 36,035 lives each year. For every person who is murdered, couple die by suicide. These deaths are uniform more tragic because they are preventable."

More accusation

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has greater degree about suicide prevention.

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