At Somethings, the safety of each teen is our top priority. In the event that a teen in our program experiences a physical or emotional crisis, our mentors alongside their Licensed Clinical Supervisor will follow the escalation procedure below.

Though all Certified Peer Specialists Mentors receive crisis management training, they are not crisis responders and their roll during a crisis moment is to help connect the teen with the appropriate crisis resources including but not limited to: 988, 911, crisis text line, a mobile crisis response team.

What do we define as a Crisis Escalation?

A crisis escalation is defined as any instance where a client is in immediate danger, such as expressing suicidal intent with a plan, method, or means, or having the intention to harm themselves or another. In the event that a Mentor is concerned that a crisis may be occurring, they will conduct an immediate risk assessment.

What is a risk assessment?

A risk assessment is an evidence based practice to assess if a client may be at risk of harming themselves or others, focusing on signs of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or violent intentions, such as homicidal ideations. The goal of this assessment is to understand the client’s needs and determine if they require additional support or a referral to crisis resources. The information gathered during this assessment is used to inform the next steps to ensure the client’s safety and well-being.

In addition to providing an immediate risk assessment, our Certified Peer Specialist Mentors will contact their Licensed Clinical Supervisor directly in our platform for immediate assistance. The Supervisor will assist the Mentor in assessing the situation and making the appropriate recommendations. All actions, recommendations, and steps taken by a mentor and their supervisor will be documented.

In the Event of a Crisis Escalation

If an immediate risk is confirmed, our team will contact first responders and work to separate the client from any means of harm. Our Supervisors will also contact the client’s emergency contact immediately.

After emergency services take over, the Mentor and Supervisor will complete an escalation documentation form. In addition, the Supervisor will follow-up with the client and their emergency contact within 24 hours.

In the event of any concern

When a concern is raised by the mentor but there is no immediate risk, the Mentor will work with their Supervisor to de-escalate the teen, ensure the teen’s safety, and plan appropriate next steps. This may include a referral for further evaluation, a recommendation for additional resources for the teen, or making outreach to the teen’s emergency contact. The teen will be monitored by the Mentor and their Supervisor to ensure that the teen has what they need.

If necessary, the supervisor may arrange a clinical intake with the teen and emergency contact to determine treatment options. The supervisor may also suggest resources for the mentor to share with the teen. The supervisor will ensure that the teen will receive the proper level care and will continue to follow up with the teen and emergency contact until the situation normalizes.

When will an emergency contact be contacted

A teen’s emergency contact will be contacted in the event that a teen is at risk of harming themselves or someone else.

For all other concerns, the Clinical Supervisor will assess the situation and determine if it is in the teen’s best interest to contact the emergency contact. The teen’s wishes will be taken into consideration.

What happens if a teen has a crisis after hours?

If a teen attempts to contact their mentor after hours, they will be directed to our resources page within the app. On this page, teens can access the following resources:

• 988

• 911

• Crisis Text Line

If a teen messages their mentor with a crisis, the Mentor and their supervisor will address the issue immediately on the next day.