Discussion: Resources on Safety and Safety Plans For Teens

Hi everyone! As a part of the Domestic Abuse & Safety Event, @MistyMagic has written this forum discussion for you on Resources on Safety and Safety Plans for Teens. Please feel free to subscribe and follow along this week.

First, an icebreaker! What is your favorite color?
Rainbow, Pastels, Mint Green, Light Blue, Pink, Purple

Question 1: This discussion is about safety plans and how you might create one and if it might help you to be safer. In your own words what do you think a ‘safety plan is and what is its purpose?
Something to do in an emergency situation, a guide to follow in case you panic, a set plan to get you to a safe location or get you out of that situation, an emotional plan for when you feel bad after a situation

Question 2: How do you think having a safety plan might help you?
Having a plan means rational and well thought out actions rather than something that may result in a more dangerous situation, it can help get you and other to a safe location, it can help preven escalation and make escaping either, makes the situation less stressful and traumatic

Question 3: What do you feel we should we include in a safety plan?
Someone to reach out to, a trustworthy person who knows everything and where you can go and is easily accessible, a safe place to go, a packed up bag with necessities

Question 4: Who might be able to help you make your own ‘Safety Plan?
a family member, a school counselor, or trusted friend or adult

Question 5: It is important to keep your safety plan safe, so that only you and people you want to it with know about it. How might you do this?
Keep it in an area that can be accessed by only you, keep it password protected in your phone or somewhere you know it can't be found by other people, write it down somewhere safe and look at it every now and then so you don't forget, identifying a location or item that only you have access to, being mindful of spyware such as key trackers or cameras if you cannot find a place only you know about

Question 6: As we mentioned earlier, keeping an emergency bag is also a good idea. You should put in a change of clothes, medication or prescriptions, and your passport or ID. What else would be a good idea to keep in the emergency bag?
first aid kit, any money you can, a spare phone, basic necessities like a tooth brush and hair brush, a copy of your safety plan, bus tokens, a list of phone numbers or addresses you can call or go to for fast help, phones that are not connected to any plan with minutes (burner phones) are useful as they are less likely to be tracked and are generally found at any superstore

Question 7: Where might be a good place to keep your emergency bag safe from being found?
Hidden in a closet or under a bed, a place in your where no one looks and you can reach fast, on your person, someone you trust

Question 8: We've talked about this a bit before, but in some abuse situations, the abuser may check your phone. How might you keep your phone safer?
Keeping your password a secret, logging out of all applicaitions after using them, not using the save password feature, only mention things over phone calls, being cautious with which apps you download, keep a back up of your safety plan outside your phone

Question 9: In some abusive or violent situations, it may be important to teach your children (if applicable) or borthers and sisters how to get help when needed by explaining to them how to alert the emergency services. What information should be given when calling 911, 999, or the emergency number in your country?
Location, what is happening, answer what they ask for, how many people are in danger

Question 10: Where might you go if you are trying to get help outside the home?
A trusted individual, a clinic, somewhere public, a police station, a hospital

Question 11: Now is the time to share any other tips or resources that might be useful for the group to know about. Here is the link for the Domestic Abuse forums www.7cups.com/forum/DomesticAbuseSupportCommunity_121/ and the Trauma Support Sub-community www.7cups.com/home/trauma/. What are resources you would like to share?
rainn.org is very useful, loveisrespect.org is nice because it's aimed specifically at teenagers, your friends, family, and therapist can be an invaluable resource.

This concludes our discussion for today. Thank you all so much for participating! It has been great to see you all here.
Please visit the Domestic Abuse Support Forums here www.7cups.com/forum/DomesticAbuseSupportCommunity_121/ And the Safety and Knowledge Sub-community here www.7cups.com/home/safe7cups/

If you weren't able to make the live discussion, please feel free to share your answers with us below!