Safety Policy

At Psychi, the safety and wellbeing of our users is our highest priority. This Safety Policy outlines how we handle crisis situations, when confidentiality may be limited, and the responsibilities of both supporters and the Psychi team.

1. Scope of Peer Support

Psychi provides peer support services through trained psychology students and graduates. Our supporters offer non-clinical listening, emotional support, and reflection. They are not licensed mental health professionals and cannot diagnose, treat, or provide therapy for mental health conditions.

Peer support is intended to complement—not replace—professional mental health care.

2. Limits of Confidentiality

While we respect user privacy, confidentiality has limits when safety is at risk. Psychi and its supporters may need to break confidentiality in the following circumstances:

• Imminent risk of self-harm or suicide
• Imminent risk of harm to another person
• Disclosure of abuse involving a minor or vulnerable adult
• Legal requirement such as a court order or subpoena

In these situations, Psychi may contact emergency services, notify appropriate authorities, or take other steps necessary to protect safety.

3. Supporter Responsibilities

3.1 Recognizing Warning Signs

All supporters complete crisis recognition training before providing support. Supporters are trained to recognize:

• Direct statements about wanting to die or end their life
• Expressions of hopelessness or feeling like a burden
• Talking about having no reason to live
• Increased substance use or reckless behavior
• Withdrawing from activities or relationships
• Giving away possessions or saying goodbye
• Sudden calmness after a period of distress

3.2 Crisis Response Protocol

When a supporter identifies a potential crisis, they must:

1. Stay calm and continue listening without judgment
2. Ask directly about thoughts of self-harm or suicide
3. Avoid promising to keep safety concerns secret
4. Encourage the client to seek professional help or contact a crisis line
5. Provide crisis resources (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line)
6. Escalate to the Psychi safety team immediately using the in-app reporting feature
7. Stay with the client (in session) until the situation is stabilized or escalated

3.3 What Supporters Must Not Do

4. Psychi Team Responsibilities

When a safety concern is escalated, the Psychi team will:

• Review the escalation promptly and assess the level of risk
• Contact emergency services (911) if there is imminent danger to life
• Reach out to the user directly if appropriate and safe to do so
• Document the incident and response in accordance with privacy policies
• Follow up with the supporter and provide debriefing or support as needed
• Review and improve safety protocols based on incident learnings

5. Crisis Resources

6. User Responsibilities

By using Psychi, users agree to:

• Understand that peer support is not a substitute for professional mental health care
• Seek professional help for serious or ongoing mental health concerns
• Be honest with supporters about their wellbeing
• Call emergency services or go to an emergency room if in immediate danger
• Treat supporters with respect and follow community guidelines

7. Reporting Safety Concerns

If you witness or experience a safety concern while using Psychi, please report it immediately:

• In-app: Use the emergency/report button available in every session
• Email: psychiapp@outlook.com
• For immediate danger: Contact emergency services (911) first

8. Policy Updates

This Safety Policy may be updated periodically. Material changes will be communicated via email or in-app notification. Continued use of Psychi after changes indicates acceptance of the revised policy.