Keeping every brother safe.

Core Principle

Recognising Risk

• Sudden withdrawal, ghosting, or 'goodbye'-style messages.
• Specific plans (a how, a when, a means) for suicide or self-harm.
• Disclosures of abuse — past or present, by them or against them.
• Visible injuries that don't match the explanation.
• Escalating substance use, debt, or self-destructive behaviour.
• Threats of harm to others (especially a partner, ex, or child).
• Children at risk in the home (witnessed violence, neglect, fear).
• Significant change in mood, sleep, appetite, or cognition.

Suicide Indicators

• Talking about wanting to die, ending it, or 'not being here'.
• Researching methods, acquiring means, giving away possessions.
• Sudden calm after a long period of distress (a decision may have been made).
• Severe hopelessness, shame, or feeling like a burden.
• Recent major loss: job, marriage, child, status, freedom.
• Previous attempts (the single highest risk factor).

Domestic Abuse Indicators

• Disclosures of being hit, threatened, or coerced — by him or against him.
• Partner monitoring phone, location, finances, or contact with friends.
• Visible bruises, injuries, or repeated 'accidents'.
• Children fearful or withdrawn around a parent.
• Threats involving children, immigration, or shared assets.
• Use of pets, faith, or shame as leverage.

Addiction Indicators

• Hidden bottles, stash, devices, or accounts.
• Money disappearing without explanation; new debts.
• Lies that escalate; defensiveness when asked simple questions.
• Missing work, missing meetings, missing church repeatedly.
• Mood that swings with access to the substance / behaviour.
• Family / partner expressing fear or exhaustion.

Mental Health Concerns

• Persistent low mood, loss of interest, sleep / appetite changes (depression).
• Persistent worry, panic attacks, avoidance (anxiety).
• Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, hyper-vigilance (trauma / PTSD).
• Disorganised thinking, paranoia, hearing voices, mania (psychiatric).
• Eating disorders, self-harm, dissociation.
• Any of the above persisting for weeks — refer to a GP or mental health professional.

Emergency Escalation Procedure

• Immediate risk to life (suicide attempt, violence, child in danger): CALL 999. Do this first.
• Once safe: notify your Forge Leader via the platform escalation button the same day.
• Document what happened, what you said, what you did, what was agreed.
• Follow up within 24 hours with the brother, the Forge Leader, and any other agreed parties.
• Take care of yourself. Crisis support takes a toll. Debrief with your own mentor or pastor.

Response Centre Escalation Workflow

• Critical (suicide, immediate harm): triaged within minutes; on-call responder + Forge Leader notified.
• High (abuse disclosure, severe self-harm risk): triaged within an hour; safeguarding lead notified.
• Medium (active addiction, marriage crisis, mental-health concern): triaged same day; assigned mentor / pastoral lead.
• Low (general prayer / pastoral request): triaged within 24 hours; routed to volunteer responders.

When To Refer (and to whom)

• Suicidal ideation → GP urgently, Samaritans 116 123 (24/7), NHS 111 option 2.
• Acute mental-health crisis → A&E or NHS 111 option 2.
• Domestic abuse (any gender) → Refuge 0808 2000 247 (UK, 24/7), or Men's Advice Line 0808 8010 327.
• Child at risk → NSPCC 0808 800 5000, or your local authority safeguarding team. If immediate danger: 999.
• Addiction → Local GP, Frank 0300 123 6600, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery.
• Marriage in crisis → Qualified Christian marriage counsellor via local church or relate.org.uk.
• Legal / financial → A qualified professional, not a mentor.

When NOT To Counsel Alone

• Active suicide risk.
• Disclosed abuse (current or historic).
• Marriage in crisis with risk of harm.
• Diagnosed (or suspected) serious mental illness.
• Anything involving children.
• Any situation involving alleged criminal activity.
• Any situation where you feel out of your depth — that is the signal to escalate, not to push through.

Safeguarding Contact Process

• Use the in-app safeguarding escalation button (mentor / leader dashboards).
• If the platform is unreachable: contact your Forge Leader directly by phone.
• If the Forge Leader is unreachable AND there is risk: contact emergency services (999) and any local safeguarding lead.
• Never delay escalation because you're worried about getting it wrong. Over-reporting is always safer than under-reporting.

Caring For Yourself