Social media platform Twitter is currently partnering local organisations to support mental health works in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
The initiative makes it easier for people in need to find support resources online.
According to a statement on Monday titled: ‘Twitter, local organisations to support mental health work in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya starting with the three countries’, – when someone searches for terms associated with suicide or self-harm on Twitter, the top search result will be a prompt encouraging such person to reach out for help.
The notification will include the contact details of a local non-profit organisation that provides critical mental health resources to people in need: the South African Depression and Anxiety Group in South Africa, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative in Nigeria, and Amref Health Africa in Kenya.
The Head of Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Twitter, Emmanuel Lubanzadio, said, “The open Twitter community can be an important source of real-time support for anyone struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide.”