Safety & Referral Protocol
A Space trains student-athletes to notice and support — and to hand concerns off to trained adults quickly. This is how a concern moves from a peer to the people equipped to help.
If someone is in immediate danger
Call or text 988— the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988 is free, confidential, and available 24/7. If there is an immediate risk to life, call 911 or your local emergency number. Then involve a trusted adult right away.
The 3-step escalation
A peer flags the concern
A student leader who notices a teammate may be struggling — or who hears something that worries them — flags it to a faculty advisor, coach, or school counselor immediately. They do not try to handle a safety situation alone.
The advisor documents and notifies
The faculty advisor documents the concern and notifies the school counselor and/or administration according to school policy, so the right trained adults are aware and can respond.
School staff follow up
School staff take over follow-up, coordinate support for the student, and carry out any mandatory reporting required by school policy and law. The peer's role is to connect, not to resolve.
Two rules that never bend
- Never promise confidentiality in a safety situation. Student leaders must be honest that when someone's safety is at stake, they will bring in a trusted adult. Promising secrecy can put a teammate at greater risk.
- This program does not diagnose or treat. Certified students offer peer support and referral — not therapy, counseling, or medical advice. The goal is always to connect a struggling teammate with trained adults.
Why it works this way
Peers are often the first to notice when a teammate is struggling, but they are not responsible for fixing it. A Space keeps students in the role they can safely fill — noticing, listening, and getting help — while trained school staff handle assessment, follow-up, and any reporting. Following this protocol protects both the student in need and the peer trying to help.