Facebook service to take part in national suicide prevention effort

If you notice dark, suicidal comments in your Facebook feed, the social media network has provided a way for you to voice your concerns before someone winds up taking their life, NBC News reports.

Facebook is teaming up with the U.S. surgeon general in a new nationwide strategy to prevent suicides, especially among young Americans and military veterans.

The initiative was announced Monday and it’s the first plan to address the growing suicide numbers in more than a decade.

The Facebook service will allow users to report suicidal comments they see from their friends, NBC News reports.

The social media site will then contact the potential victims and urge them to chat with an online counselor or provide them with a prevention hotline to call.

All too often, people in crisis do not know how - or who - to ask for help," Facebook Global Vice President for Public Policy Marne Levine said in a statement. "We have a unique opportunity to provide the right resources to our users in distress, when and where they need them most."

The effort has been funded with a $55.6 million grant for suicide prevention programs. Officials hope the programs reduce the number of deaths over the next ten years.

Read the entire story here: http://nbcnews.to/OlE1ks