Children, young people, adults at risk and safeguarding overlap

Self-harm and suicide risk often occur alongside child safeguarding concerns, adult safeguarding issues, domestic abuse, sexual violence, exploitation, bullying, carer stress, substance misuse or acute mental health crises.

Why overlap matters

An urgent mental health concern can indicate someone is being harmed by another person, unsafe at home, exploited online, or unable to protect themselves. Children, dependants or vulnerable adults may also be affected by the immediate situation.

Reception staff should not judge whether safeguarding thresholds are met. The appropriate response is to recognise the possible overlap, record the person's words and the context, and escalate via the urgent and safeguarding routes in your practice.

Think safeguarding when

• The person is a child or young person, particularly where self-harm, threats, exploitation, bullying or sexual harm are mentioned.
• Another person may be coercing, abusing, neglecting or exploiting them.
• An adult may be unable to protect themselves because of care needs, disability, frailty, coercion, illness or dependence on another person.
• Children or dependants may be affected by the person's immediate risk, intoxication, overdose or crisis.
• The caller asks for secrecy or says normal contact routes are unsafe.

Do not promise secrecy

Someone may ask you not to tell anyone. Be honest: you can be respectful and discreet, but you must not promise secrecy when there is a risk of serious harm, self-harm, suicide or a safeguarding concern.

Safe wording can be: "I will only share this with people who need to know so we can help keep you safe." This helps preserve trust while making limits clear.

Young people

Suicide-risk escalation and safeguarding escalation may both be needed; one does not replace the other.