WE’VE all got one, that one Facebook friend who constantly posts vague yet oddly specific messages making thinly veiled references to “a certain someone” or claiming they’re “furious.com”.

I’m not breaking any barriers to say it’s annoying, obnoxious and childish.

Of course, there’s often something of a tendency to exaggerate on social media – how often have you seen someone with a bit of a hangover claim they’re “literally dying” or a comedian who made a slightly off-colour joke described as “worse than Hitler”?

So in many cases people claiming their lives are falling apart are more likely to just be slightly miffed about having forgotten to record Downton Abbey.

And for the most part that’s all it is – childish attention-seeking and public airing of dirty laundry.

Hardly what Mark Zuckerberg was thinking of when he came up with Facebook, I’m sure.

But here’s the problem.

For every hundred “I have had enuff ” and “Can’t believe the way some people talk to me” there’s going to be one which is a genuine cry for help.

In today’s world so many people play out their lives on social media, so it’s not such a leap to expect someone genuinely in a dark place to turn to Facebook or Twitter when they feel the need to vent.

So while “I feel rubbish” followed by ten sad faces might seem to be little more than attention-seeking, every now and then the person writing it could be in actual need of a shoulder to cry on. And dismissing them as just being in a bad mood could be the one thing that pushes them over the edge.

In an ideal world no one would be ashamed of reaching out for help when they need it, but unfortunately we live in a society in which doing so is seen by many as a sign of weakness. Whether it’s being really upset about something or actual clinical depression, we all find ourselves in a situation where we want nothing more than someone to hold our hands and tell us we’re not alone.

So next time a friend posts something that might at first glance be obnoxious or attention-seeking, maybe give them a ring or drop them a quick text just to check they’re ok.

Sometimes, just knowing someone cares is enough to make a real difference.