crisis-response-protocol

Crisis Response Protocol

This skill helps you implement safe crisis intervention features for the AI coaching system, following mental health best practices.

When to Use

✅ USE this skill for:

• Implementing crisis detection in recovery/mental health apps
• Building safety planning features
• Integrating hotline and emergency resource displays
• Designing risk assessment interfaces
• Creating escalation protocols for AI chat systems

❌ DO NOT use for:

• Responding to an actual crisis yourself → Call 988 or emergency services
• General mental health content → use sober-addict-protector or recovery-coach-patterns
• Medical advice or diagnosis → Always defer to licensed professionals
• Replacing human crisis counselors → AI should augment, never replace

Critical Safety Principle

AI should NEVER be the sole responder in acute crisis situations. Always provide pathways to human support and emergency services.

Crisis Detection

Risk Indicator Categories

interface RiskIndicators {
  // PRIMARY - Immediate escalation required
  primary: {
    suicidalIdeation: string[];      // "want to die", "end it all"
    selfHarmIntent: string[];         // "hurt myself", "cutting"
    homicidalIdeation: string[];      // "hurt someone"
    activeSubstanceEmergency: string[]; // "overdosed", "can't stop"
  };

  // SECONDARY - Elevated monitoring
  secondary: {
    severeDepression: string[];       // "hopeless", "no point"
    panicSymptoms: string[];          // "can't breathe", "heart racing"
    psychoticSymptoms: string[];      // "hearing voices"
    severeAnxiety: string[];          // "terrified", "losing control"
  };

  // TERTIARY - Check-in triggers
  tertiary: {
    isolationPatterns: string[];      // "no one cares", "alone"
    substanceRelapse: string[];       // "started using", "slipped"
    hopelessness: string[];           // "never get better"
  };
}

Detection Implementation

// src/lib/ai/crisis-detection.ts

export interface CrisisAssessment {
  level: 'none' | 'low' | 'medium' | 'high' | 'critical';
  indicators: string[];
  recommendedAction: CrisisAction;
  timestamp: Date;
}

export type CrisisAction =
  | 'continue_conversation'
  | 'gentle_check_in'
  | 'safety_resources'
  | 'crisis_protocol'
  | 'emergency_escalation';

export function assessCrisisLevel(
  messageContent: string,
  conversationHistory: Message[],
  userCheckInHistory: CheckIn[]
): CrisisAssessment {
  const indicators: string[] = [];
  let level: CrisisAssessment['level'] = 'none';

  // Check primary indicators (critical)
  if (hasPrimaryIndicators(messageContent)) {
    level = 'critical';
    indicators.push('primary_risk_detected');
  }

  // Check secondary indicators
  if (hasSecondaryIndicators(messageContent)) {
    level = level === 'none' ? 'high' : level;
    indicators.push('secondary_risk_detected');
  }

  // Check pattern indicators from history
  if (hasWorseningPattern(userCheckInHistory)) {
    level = level === 'none' ? 'medium' : level;
    indicators.push('worsening_trend');
  }

  // Check conversation escalation
  if (hasEscalatingDistress(conversationHistory)) {
    level = level === 'none' ? 'medium' : level;
    indicators.push('escalating_distress');
  }

  return {
    level,
    indicators,
    recommendedAction: getRecommendedAction(level),
    timestamp: new Date(),
  };
}