Facebook and multiple mental health organizations worked together on a recent update that aims to provide support for those dealing with suicidal thoughts.

The update allows users to report troubling content. There will also be support resources provided when someone logs on to Facebook after a report has been sent about something that they posted.

One of the organizations that worked with Facebook on this project is Save.org.

Dr. Dan Reidenberg, the executive director of Save.org spoke about the expectations of the update.

“Facebook is truly the leader in this area,” Reidenberg said.

Reidenberg has been working with Facebook for ten years and said that now that the recent expansion launched last week, they are working on meeting with representatives from other countries to globalize the project.

“[Facebook is] very good at understanding how to take content from science and experts,” Reidenberg said, about the process and design of the update.

He said that the update is very positive and socially engaged, and that he hopes it “really does make a difference in a big way.”

On Feb. 25, Facebook Safety posted on Facebook that there will be updated tools that aim to provide “more resources, advice and support to people who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts.”

These resources include options of reporting troubling content to Facebook that one may see a friend post, and also options to those who may need help that explain support options that are available to them.

Donna Bestock, Skyline’s Dean of Social Science/Creative Arts, thinks that having this option makes an uncomfortable conversation easier to approach.

Bestock said that this helps normalize something “that’s very hard to say.”

She spoke about how this update provides an introduction on how to normalize the way peers communicate about the subjects of suicide, depression and suicide prevention.

“There will be some people who are already looking for ways to help a friend,” Bestock said.

Professor of Psychology, Paul Tony Jackson, spoke about the effectiveness of this information being available to people.

“Facebook is another avenue for putting people in front of information,” Jackson said.

Jackson’s primary response to the update is that resources will now be at the fingertips of everyone.

“In terms of Facebook’s ability to raise awareness, I think it could be a successful technological addition to what it does already,” Jackson said.

However, there are some hesitations towards the update.

Bestock said that it may need to be handled carefully, and that it will grow in strength and usage.

Another concern is how much of an impact it will make, despite the potential it has.

“How effective it will be at actually bringing intervention…is another story,” Jackson said.

When asked whether they think students will use the resources provided to them, Bestock said that she would use it, and that it can be recognized as a way of reaching out in a way that’s as respectful of privacy as possible, which adds a safe appeal to it.

Some Skyline students have mixed feelings about the update.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Victoria Baltodano said. “But I feel like a lot of people won’t use it.”

Another student, Sarah Fregoso, said that she worries some people may react defensively to being approached through social media in this way. Student, Maureen Iriabho Okugbe said that there may be hesitance to use the resources.

According to the post on the Facebook Safety page, the updates will be available to everyone who uses Facebook in the U.S. throughout the coming months.

Update: the quote “There will be some people who are already looking for ways to help a friend,” was repeated, so one of them has been removed. 12:27 p.m. 3/16/2015