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THE Isle of Man branch of The Samaritans has joined in with a new Facebook scheme to help people who are struggling to cope or feel suicidal.
The 30 million UK Facebook users can now help their friends via the Samaritans Facebook Help Centre where they can report specific content such as status updates or wall posts. Facebook will then put Samaritans in touch with the distressed friend to offer their expert support.
Local volunteers for The Samaritans in the Isle of Man have been using Twitter as part of their annual recruitment campaigns, but the addition of the new Facebook link is hoped to be a useful addition.
A spokesman said, “Facebook is enormously popular in the UK and we believe the vast majority of people in the Isle of Man also have access to a computer and their own Facebook pages.
“If this helps save the life of just one person then it is worthwhile. We hope it will particularly encourage young people to look out for the vulnerable in our society.”
The Facebook page (www.facebook.com/help) offers computer users the chance to confidentially inform The Samaritans about vulnerable friends and gives advice on how to spot the signs of distress and how to start a difficult conversation. Also on the page will be messages from high profile celebrities backing the campaign.
Catherine Johnstone, chief executive of Samaritans, said: “Through the popularity of Facebook, we are harnessing the power of friendship so people can get help. As a friend you are better placed to know whether someone close to you is struggling to cope or even feeling suicidal.
“We want to remind people that if a friend says that life isn’t worth living, they should always be taken seriously. Facebook is a part of daily life for so many of us and we must make sure that people online have support when they need it.”
Facebook’s Director of Policy for Europe, Richard Allan said, “We’re pleased to welcome the expertise of a great partner in Samaritans. They will help to make our robust reporting system even more effective, as friends are encouraged to look out for one another on Facebook as they do in the real world.
“This supplements the number of ways to get help already available on Facebook, from our Help Centre to the reporting tools we offer.”
Samaritans’ volunteers have welcomed the initiative. Sandra Forrester, director of Samaritans’ Northampton branch and part of the team responding to the Facebook referrals, said, “It is a brilliant idea that we team up with Facebook as it is another way for vulnerable people to know that we are here to support them, and that they aren’t alone.”
Samaritans is running a Facebook advertising campaign to encourage people to “Like” their fan Page at www.facebook.com/samaritanscharity where they can find updates on the charity’s work and how to become a supporter.
The Samaritans’ Facebook fan page already has 3,500 fans and is used to keep supporters up to date with guidance and fund raising initiatives and direct people to the contact details they need to get further support.
Anyone feeling distressed and needing to talk can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day by phone 08457 90 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org, face-to-face (visit www.samaritans.org for details of your local branch) or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/help and search for ‘worried’.
