By Sonya Davidson
Facebook Canada, along with Kids Help Phone and TSN's Micahel Landsberg, introduced Help A Friend in Need, a new resource that provides tips to help youth ages 15 to 20 identify potential warning signs of suicide on online activity. According to Facebook 7.5 per cent of young people who have contacted Kids Help Phone have spoken about suicide as the primary reason they reach out.
In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Help A Friend in Need guide will be distributed nationally (English and French) through the Facebook Family Safety Centre and Kids Help Phone website.
“We created Help A Friend In Need with Kids Help Phone, because we want to make sure that friends and family have the resources to help identify when someone is distressed and know what steps to take, particularly in extreme cases where someone’s life might be in danger. Studies have shown that connectedness is crucial to people who may be at risk of suicide – reaching out and offering people support can be a life-saving act,” said Jordan Banks, Managing Director, Facebook Canada.
“When Kids Help Phone was founded 25 years ago, we couldn’t imagine that a friend’s distressing status update would be a concern young people would one day have,” says Sharon Wood, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone. “Today, so much of our lives happen online and Facebook is integral to many of our conversations; it’s important that we continuously adapt and respond to how youth communicate in order to be there for kids, teens and young adults, no matter what.”
Kids Help Phone is a charity that provides anonymous and confidential professional counselling to young people in Canada. The guide was originally created in partnership with The Jed Foundation and The Clinton Foundation.