# Crisis Buddy & Safety

Crisis Buddy is a lightweight safety feature that lets users store trusted contacts inside your application. These contacts can be surfaced during high-stress moments, used as part of crisis-support flows, or presented to users who may need immediate human connection.

This feature does **not** automatically contact emergency services — it is a user-controlled safety tool designed to support responsible wellbeing applications.

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### **What Crisis Buddy Provides**

Crisis Buddy allows your app to:

* add trusted emergency contacts
* store multiple contacts per user
* retrieve or display contact details
* update or remove contacts
* use contacts as part of your own crisis-handling UX

Each contact typically includes:

* name
* phone number
* relationship
* optional profile picture

These are stored securely and tied to the authenticated user.

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### **How Crisis Buddy Works**

1. Your app collects the user’s trusted contacts.
2. You send them to the API to store securely.
3. You can fetch all contacts whenever needed (e.g., crisis screen, support menu).
4. Your UI determines how and when to surface them.

There is **no automated messaging**, outbound calling, or emergency intervention done by therappai.

This ensures full control and responsibility remains with your application and your organisation’s policies.

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### **When to Surface Crisis Buddy**

Most developers show Crisis Buddy contacts in moments such as:

* user reports a very low mood
* concerning free-text entries
* after a difficult therapy session
* inside a “Get Help Now” menu
* during guided grounding exercises

How you trigger or display these contacts depends on your product experience and user flow.

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### **Safety Guidelines for Developers**

To implement Crisis Buddy responsibly:

#### **Don’t automate emergency actions**

Do not automatically call, message, or notify contacts. Always involve the user.

#### **Offer clear choices**

Provide buttons like:

* *Call now*
* *Message contact*
* *Open support resources*

#### **Use respectful language**

Avoid alarming or clinical wording. Keep it supportive and clear.

#### **Ensure quick access**

Make contacts easily accessible from crisis-related screens.

#### **Handle sensitive data securely**

Store contact info according to your security, privacy, and compliance standards.

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### **How Crisis Buddy Fits With Other Features**

Crisis Buddy works best when integrated with:

#### **Mood Tracking**

If mood entries show severe or persistent lows, your app can surface Crisis Buddy options.

#### **AI Therapy Sessions**

If the user expresses distress, your UI can display contacts or a “Get Help” panel.

#### **Content Library**

Grounding or calming exercises can offer Crisis Buddy as an option at the end.

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### **Important Notes**

* therappai does not monitor crisis activity.
* therappai does not contact emergency services or personal contacts.
* You are responsible for how the feature is used in your product.

Crisis Buddy is a **supportive, user-controlled safety layer**, not a crisis-intervention system.