SUICIDE – AT A CLICK’S TICK

Facebook launched a new suicide prevention tool in collaboration with National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in America and Canada on December 13, Tuesday through which users can have a direct counseling online. According to an NSPL spokesperson, though Lifeline deals with 70.000 calls per month, users don’t feel comfortable in telephonic dealing. “This new service provides a way for them to get the help they need in the way they want it.”
(Courtesy: www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16164222)

Any piece of content that seems like it may be a sign of depression or suicidal thoughts can be reported by selecting “suicidal content” from the harmful behavior option. Facebook will then send an email containing a link and a phone number to the distressed user to chat with the NSPL counselor.

Facebook spokesperson Frederic Wolens said that the person, reporting someone distressed, will remain anonymous. Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide everyday, according to Surgeon General of the United States. This application is aimed to be launched in UK to with the assistance of Support Charity Samaritans.

Now what actually needs to be considered is the actual usage of this application. What would be the level of actual stress that might lead to suicidal attempts as many heartbroken or depressed teenagers quote sad lyrics. Also, many of the tension-filled-statements are the product of temporary emotionalism only.

It can also become a fun notion for youths or those having fake IDs. It can be used for propaganda or torture too. Therefore, very calculated considerations are required before giving full access of this application to the users.

IN THE LAP OF MEDIA.. !

It is not weird to see people accusing media for country's topsy-turvy state but yes! This is astonishing that they alleged the institution after it's to-some-extent genuine performance for more than a decade __ too late, isn't it?? How can an institution amass the worthy corruption-free environment for so long in a country where foundation-less institutions are operating successfully** (as they say)? And if it did absorb corruption, then after more than a decade? Now this is beyond boundaries of acceptance!

Media is an institution that works to reveal facts and ....... OK! everyone knows what media is required to do and the "always true analyst" in our every state-mate keeps an eye on the institution too then it is seriously silly to accuse solely media. Our elites and executives talk about sources - sources that open ventilators for them to breath wherever they want and in any way they need. On the other hand, media is all about sources, contacts, PR etcetera. The puppeteer is in power and the puppet on stage, then, our dear analysts! where are the control ropes.... ?

It was not the institution of media, it was a media-personnel who made Zulfiqar Mirza to burst out and it was not the media-man but ZM too, and not ZM but those too who applauded his act, and not just the companions but those too who ruined Karachi's peace and those too ...... and ...... and .....

Our ever-criticizing society would not appreciate or motivate those who made media to work better than some other institutions. He was also a reporter who died for attempting to reveal PNS Mehran's story, and he is also a reporter who stands by the railway sufferers to question the authorities. He is also anchor who portrayed the positive image - the unity of Karachiites during riots and he is also anchor who sensationalizes the rape story of an innocent.

It is not the Hakumat, the Adaalat, the Sahafi, the Police, the Education Board, the Rangers..........it is WE !!

REQUEST: Dear Government! Kindly take the degrees of all those Doctors who are spoiling the world of journalism. It would not only improve jobs' ratio for fresh-comers but would also provide good-oil-absorbing paper for few Samosas and Pakoras.