Someone online

If you or someone you know is in immediate physical danger related to suicide or self-harm, please contact 911 or local law enforcement for help. If the threat is not immediate, you should contact a family member or loved one to try to help.

From time to time you may encounter a person who is expressing thoughts of suicide on your social media sites. If someone you know online is showing any of these warning signs, it is important that you post a message encouraging them to contact someone for help. If you are friends with the person in real life or know where the person is, please call 800-273-TALK(8255) so that you can talk to a crisis counselor.

  • Writing about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
  • Writing about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
  • Writing about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
  • Writing about being a burden to others.
  • Writing about seeking revenge.

Resources

Ways to get them the help they need:

  • Facebook: Anonymously report someone as suicidal on Facebook. A member of Facebook’s Safety Team will send the user an email with the Lifeline number and possibly a link to chat with Lifeline counselor.
  • Google Plus: To report the post select report post from the menu, identify why you're reporting the post. Other resources for Google Plus.
  • Instagram: Tap the three dots. Tap Report Inappropriate and select this photo puts people at risk of Self-harm. Instagram will review it and try to reach out to the person to provide them with more information. View more detailed instructions.
  • MySpace: Select the “Report Abuse” link that appears at the bottom of every MySpace page and complete the form. MySpace will then send an email to the MySpace user with the Lifeline number.
  • Pheed: View helpful instructions, or select the Flag to send the pheed to Pheed for review. Once again if you know them suggest they seek help.
  • Snapchat: If you know them in real life suggest the get help or contact someone to get them help. Report inappropriate content.
  • Tumblr: Write an email to Tumblr about a suicidal user. Include as much information as possible including the URL of the Tumblr blog. A member of Tumblr’s Safety Team will send the user an email with the Lifeline number.
  • Twitter:  Once you're on the site select “Self-Harm” to send an email to Twitter reporting a suicidal user. Twitter will send the user a direct message with the Lifeline number.
  • Vine: Select “Self-Harm” to send an email to Vine reporting a suicidal user. Vine will send the user a direct message with the Lifeline number.
  • YouTube: To report suicidal content, select the flag icon under a video and select “Harmful Dangerous Acts” and then “Suicide or Self-Injury.” You Tube will then review the video and may send a message to the user that uploaded the video with the Lifeline number.