When it's all too much or you're feeling unsafe

What should I do if I feel unsafe or at risk of harm?

If you are feeling low and are unable to keep yourself safe, or feel at risk of hurting others, please call 000.

A member of the police or ambulance service will come to your location to make sure you (and where appropriate others) are safe. If they feel that you need further support, they may take you to a hospital so you can be reviewed by a psychiatrist.

If that's the case, your Claims Service Provider will be able to help cover the cost of the ambulance.

The main priority for all involved is that you are reviewed by a professional so they can confirm your safety and suggest any support that may be required to maintain that safety.

If your mental health is declining but you don't feel at risk of hurting yourself or others, we encourage you to:

• Notify your treatment team of your concerns as early as possible. Your treatment team can determine whether you may need any additional support during this stage of your recovery. For example, your psychologist and doctor may suggest that you move your sessions to weekly rather than fortnightly until your mental health improves and the level of risk has reduced. Your treatment team may also develop a safety plan for you that you can rely on should you start to feel unsafe.
• Update your case manager. If your case manager is informed, they will be in a better position to move quickly with approving additional treatment recommended by your treatment team. They can also assist in arranging crisis care support.
• If you feel comfortable doing so, you may wish to nominate a third party who can act on your claim. That way, if your case manager is concerned for your safety and wellbeing and is unable to make contact with you, they can engage the third party to try and confirm your safety.

If you feel that you require additional support, on top of your regular psychological treatments, please reach out to your case manager, they can work with you and your treatment team to find additional ways to increase your level of support.

The role of the case manager when they are notified of a risk to your safety, or the safety of others

When your case manager is made aware of a potential risk of harm, there is a process that they need to follow.

The first and most important step is to ensure the safety of those at risk. To do this, they may need to call:

• your doctor
• your psychiatrist or psychologist
• emergency services (if they are unable to confirm your safety)
• your partner or a close contact (who acts on your behalf on the claim)
• other individuals who may be at risk of harm.