A mercilessly bullied boy who threatened to kill himself was saved by well-wishers after his frightened mum turned to Facebook for support.
Karen Brocklebank reacted after finding an Instagram message from her son Noah Brocklebank showing photos of his self-harm injuires along with a threat to commit suicide on his 13 birthday.
She had Noah committed to a hospital for eight days for treatment. Then she came up with an idea to help her son cope with the hard times he was facing.
She decided to share his story with the world in hopes that others could offer reassuring words.
Ironically, she chose Facebook - so often pilloried for providing opportunities for bullying trolls to vent their spleens - but it was a risk that paid off.
"I put it out there. I was desperate. It was a survival plea," she told CBS News.
Noah soon received more than 2,000 letters in just a couple of weeks and that number has now grown to several thousand.
Those inspirational messages effectively saved the teenager's life. Noah, from Columbia, Marlyand, US, said he'd been bulled for years, being called 'fat,' 'ugly,' 'annoying,' and loser'.
He said he 'felt like everything was worthless' and that he had no one. This, combined with Noah's depression, led him to post a the troubling picture on the social networking site and a message saying: "Day of scheduled suicide: February 8, 2013 my birthday."
But after his mum stepped in she says the resulting letters have restored her faith in humanity and given her son the inspiration he needs.
Noah said: "I was focused on the bad side of the people, like the bullies. Then I realised there are caring people out there that can be my friends."
For more information visit Lettersfornoah.com