Facebook seems to be following in the footsteps of Twitter in at least one regard. Recently Twitter teamed up with a suicide prevention charity called Samaritans to start tracking keywords on the social media platform that could point them towards at risk users.

The good intentioned plan met a significant amount of criticism due to its potential privacy concerns, but that has not stopped Facebook from making a similar choice. Facebook is teaming up with a few different mental health organizations including Forefront, Now Matters Now, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and Save.org.

How their plan differs from Twitter’s, is that instead of keeping track of keywords being used on the site, the social media platform will instead offer a place for people to report others who may be suffering from thoughts of suicide. Facebook would at that point reach out and offer support.

Facebook has made a statement about the new feature.

“For those who may need help we have significantly expanded the support and resources that are available to them the next time they log on to Facebook after we review a report of something they’ve posted,” they began.

“Besides encouraging them to connect with a mental health expert at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, we now also give them the option of reaching out to a friend, and provide tips and advice on how they can work through these feelings. All of these resources were created in conjunction with our clinical and academic partners.”

The program will also include resources for the friends of people who may have been posting troubling thoughts. The program will begin to roll out in the United States over the next couple months, and then will eventually extend across the world as well.

Many suicidal people do in fact express concerning thoughts via their social media, so hopefully the plan could help turn some of these stories around for the better.