Taking action on social media to prevent suicide: A guide for social media professionals

Given the increasing use of social media globally, it is recognized that people are more likely to use online platforms to communicate personal experiences, include those of sadness, distress, crisis and thoughts of suicide. Whether the purpose of the communication is to seek help or to share a lived or living experience, all expressions of seeking help are valid and should be responded to in a hopeful and helpful way.

The Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (AQPS) has written a guide to help social media professions to identify and support people who communicate distress or crisis, online. By creating a strong human safety net, both within and outside of digital spaces, the guide aims to prevent suicide and promote life and living among both users and consumers of social media.

Important Note: AQSP is a provincial organization and as such, some of the resources listed in this guide are available to Quebec residents only. For a listing of support and crisis services available in Canada, please visit Resources – Canadian Association For Suicide Prevention. https://aqps.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AQPS_Taking-action-on-social-media-to-prevent-suicide_jan2022.pdf