Active Rescue Policy
What
An active rescue is the process of Supervisors contacting emergency services to secure the physical safety of a texter when the texter is unable or unwilling to. Active rescues may be performed by texters at risk of: suicide, homicide, medical emergencies, crimes in progress, and domestic abuse. Supervisors aim to employ the least invasive intervention possible and make all attempts to assist a texter in reaching safety without utilising emergency services.
Why
The organisation adheres to the philosophy that all texters who contact the Text About It service possess a desire for support. Those who possess a desire for support deserve escalation to emergency services to guard against their risk to life in situations that cannot be de-escalated. Emergency intervention can be traumatic for the texter thus the service aims to directly de-escalate the risk without the use of emergency intervention whenever possible.
How
When a texter discloses all of the following information AND is unwilling or unable to agree to keep themselves safe (see safety planning below)*, a Supervisor/Platform Shift Leader shall contact emergency services.
Risk Assessment
Use the Suicide Consideration Tool to look at risk AND safety factors. Risk factors include:
Desire: directly or indirectly expressed a desire to die.
Plan: a specific plan for how they would die by suicide.
Means: access to means to follow through on the plan—meaning a method or tool that is accessible to them.
Timeframe: plan to complete suicide within the next 24 hours.
Safety Planning
What
The process of de-escalating a texter who is at imminent risk of dying by suicide.
Why
De-escalating the risk of suicide promotes texter safety. Emergency intervention can be traumatic for the texter thus the service aims to directly de-escalate the risk without the use of emergency intervention whenever possible.
How
Volunteers ensure a texter has developed a safety plan which includes:
A safe space. The texter has established a safe environment by creating a buffer between them and their urges to die by suicide. Texter has identified a plan to remove or, at least, distance themselves from dangerous objects in their surroundings.
Investigation of warning signs (the situations, thoughts, moods, and behaviours that led the texter to feel suicidal). Once immediate safety is addressed, volunteers invite texters to talk and identify their warning signs.
Ways the texter finds relief. Volunteers collaborate with texters to discover activities they can use, on their own, to find relief from their urges to die by suicide.
Sense of belonging. Volunteers ask texters about the people in their lives who help them to feel good, as well as, safe social environments where they can be around other people.
People who can help the texter with crisis. Volunteers collaborate with texters to identify family and friends they could contact for help during a crisis.
Professional support. Volunteers work with texters to discover what professional support the texter has or needs. If the texter is actively involved in mental health treatment, focus on how they can stay safe until their next session. Volunteers also help texters recognise what is emergency help. Encourage texters to call 999 for emergency help when their life is at risk.
Summary of the plan and confirmation of safety. Volunteers reflect back to the texter the plan they’ve created for safety and gauge their willingness to follow through with each part of the safety plan. Volunteers collaborate with their Supervisor to determine the texter’s new level of risk and subsequently whether or not an active rescue is warranted.
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* Safety for an imminent risk texter means they have created reasonable distance from means, are open to discussing resiliency factors, and either (1) agree not to complete their plan or (2) agree to contact emergency services or reach out again if they feel as if they may complete their suicide plan.
When the Risk Assessment indicates the need to call Emergency Services
Supervisors guide volunteers to make every effort to obtain the texter’s location prior to calling emergency services.
Supervisors guide volunteers to make every effort to encourage the texter to contact emergency services directly prior to calling emergency services on the texter’s behalf.
If a Supervisor believes they need to call in an active rescue for a texter, the Supervisor will:
Consult with the Platform Shift Leader on the platform about the conversation. If a Platform Shift Leader isn’t on the platform at the time (on break, etc) then the Supervisor should consult with a minimum of one other Supervisor.
Document their rationale in the notes section of the Texter profile noting specifically:
Were all 4 ladder up criteria met?
Was Texter willing to make a plan for safety?
Were there any protective factors/connection to life?
Is there reason to believe the texter’s presentation wasn’t genuine?
Supervisors communicate with volunteers throughout the active rescue process and offer the opportunity for the volunteers to debrief after active rescue has been completed.