Facebook has added new tools that will provide advice and support to users who may be expressing suicidal thoughts on Facebook.

Developed with the help of mental health organisations the tools will allow users to report a direct threat of suicide to the local emergency services and then to Facebook. 

“We have teams working around the world, 24/7, who review any report that comes in. They prioritize the most serious reports, like self-injury, and send help and resources to those in distress,” the Facebook announcement says.

If a users content has been flagged by a loved one they will be prompted to contact a mental health expert the next time they log in. 

The tool will be  rolled out in the US over the next couple of months and may come to other countries at a later date.