Peter Martin: Google does something really good. | Hacker News Reader

Peter Martin: Google does something really good.

petermartin.com.au

103 pointsjedwhite28 comments

I'm glad I read this. Google's been on these threads a lot, because of employees leaving it, demonstrating stunted innovation, etc. etc. But, ultimately, Google still does a world of good through the choices and products it makes.

Shows the number for the Samaritans on google.co.uk, but nothing for me on google.com. Google.co.nz has a helpline, but google.ca doesn't.

I wonder who decides which countries to roll this sort of thing out to? Is it done by someone who just looks up certain countries helpline numbers first, or do they roll it out based on which countries are searching heavily on key terms?

Google have a ton of hard data on how people live - and die - and they could use it to really optimise how society helps people in times of vulnerability and need.

On google.com from the US, I see "Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline".

Me too, but it's under an ad and links to two news stories with a photo.

http://cl.ly/3Ekm

But before the wikipedia link on methods. All in all, I think it's reasonable mix between people searching for information on recent suicides and helping those who need it.

Also, the top two before the help line draw attention and are also discouraging.

that's interesting.. I'm in the US and the phone number is above all links, and there are no ads.

Some for me, I am in holland and I get it when I search on google.nl for suicide either in English or Dutch, but not when I search on google.com.

Perhaps not all countries have equivalent suicide hotlines, and thus they would not get such a notice?

Its really interesting how I feel really good about this use of data, but feel much more uncomfortable with (for example) using location data to tell me where to go to get pizza.

I tried the danish word for suicide, and it suggested suicide methods.

Not even google likes Danes.

Odd, I tried "selvmord" here in Norway, and it gives

  Trenger du hjelp i Norge, ringer du 116 123
  Mental Helse

Must be really a thing against Danes ;)

Seems to work for other similar queries. I tried the first that popped into my head: [kill myself]. Pretty good idea.

I tried "I want to kill myself" and I still got a suicide prevention link. Pretty good.

After first [and second] look at the screenshot I did NOT notice that suicide-line phone number.

It's probably because usually there are ads there.

There must be some geolocation going on - the Japanese Google.com and Google.co.jp are not giving out hotline #s from NYC. Is there someone in Japan who could test this?

Of course, it makes sense, since the hotline numbers would probably not work outside the country.

They haven't gotten around to adding this feature for Swedish searches -- the first hit is the Swedish suicide guide (talks about mental preparation, choosing a location, how to find the courage, practical details etc). Made me feel ill at ease.

It's being rolled out in Sweden:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/helping-you-find-emer...

I'm in Switzerland. According to SERPs there doesn't seem to be a suicide hot-line here, so the search doesn't get any special treatment on google.ch, nor on google.com.

I tried English/French (it's the same word) and also German, but still no go.

Does an ad for Dignitas come up?

Is this new to google.com.au? This has been on Google.com for years, hasn't it?

Yes. Google just rolled this out to multiple countries.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/helping-you-find-emer...

That's cool and all, but I don't think folks who commit suicide generally Google it before hand.

The overwhelming majority of people at risk for suicide broadcast many warning signs. Often, they are subtle, but more often, they represent a loud cry for help for an ultimately preventable situation.

Very few people commit suicide on a whim.

I'd bet my life's savings that enough suicidal people search for the word "suicide" that this showed up in metrics.

Having worked at Google, I could take a guess at how these help numbers came to be a feature. Some search engineers were probably analyzing a question along the lines of "What pattern of searches result in unhappy users that don't come back?"

My uncle took his own life two years ago, and part of his "cry for help" period was him using Google to research suicide. After looking through his internet history, we found it was on more than just one occasion. I'd be willing to bet that many, many people do the same thing.

Even if it only saves one persons life it is worth it.

Blogspam.

The essence of a screenshot and 4 sentences is "if you google for 'suicide', Google will show a helpline telephone number".

Peter Martin is a respected Australian economics writer based in the national capital.

I'd be amazed if he's heard of HN. Which makes it hard for him to be in the HN-linkbaiting business.

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