Suicide prevention — help for friends
We care deeply about your safety and well-being across our platforms. We encourage you to play an active role in the health of your friends, and we’ve worked closely with suicide prevention experts to offer help and support to the Meta community.
Knowing what to say
If you’re worried your friend is at risk of suicide, call local emergency services. Don't wait. When you're concerned you have a suicidal friend or they've told you they are having suicidal thoughts, it can be hard to know what to say. Be a good listener, keep the conversation going and encourage your friend to talk to a trusted healthcare professional. Stay connected to your friend and check in with them regularly.
What to look for
Suicide is complex and influenced by many factors. At Meta, we've worked with suicide prevention experts to understand the best ways to support someone having suicidal thoughts. These tips come from Forefront: Innovations in Suicide Prevention.
- Look for warning signs of disinterest or phrases such as "I want to disappear" or "I want to end this." These may indicate feelings of hopelessness.
- Empathize and listen while giving your full attention. Don't offer solutions, but help them feel heard and ask open-ended questions that get them talking about their feelings.
- Ask about suicide to show you care and signify you see their level of distress. If they say they are thinking about suicide, continue the conversation and encourage them to talk about the distress to help reduce feelings of isolation.
- Remove the danger and access to suicidal means, such as drugs, a weapon or rope, and stay involved until help arrives, ensuring they reach the next level of professional care.
Safe conversations
The Orygen #chatsafe guide provides beneficial tools and resources for having safe conversations with friends who may be in distress. Created for educators, the guide can provide helpful models for safe language when talking about suicide and can empower young people to safely engage with suicide-related content.
Reporting posts
Meta users can report posts they feel indicate someone is thinking about suicide. Trained members of our Community Operations team will review these reports and, if needed, connect the poster with support resources. When there’s risk of imminent harm, we work with emergency responders.
Talking about bereavement
Bereavement, grief and loss can impact people differently. A range of symptoms can bring additional distress to you or a friend already struggling with the loss of a loved one. It's not always easy to recognize symptoms of bereavement, and new feelings can appear unexpectedly.
Be aware of the risk of viral challenges
Online suicide challenges are dangerous and violate Meta's policies. Learn how to identify, prevent and handle these life-threatening self-harm "games."
