POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 113 family / community members, friends, teachers, coaches, Elders, social workers, etc. If you’re comfortable and feel ready, talking to an adult you trust about what’s happening may expand your support system and help you feel less alone. You may also want to create a code word / signal to use with the people you trust to let them know when you need their immediate support. You can discuss (in advance) what action(s) they should take when you use your code word / signal with them. This could mean having them come pick you up or having them call emergency or other services for you, for example. Keep track of safer spaces Leaving your home for a few hours to spend time in a place where you feel more comfortable may help in situations when you’re having trouble creating a safer space at home or home has become unsafe. Consider what places you can go to in your community. This may include a library, community centre, place of worship, friendship centre, mall, friend’s house, youth shelter, drop-in peer support or mental health resource centre, etc. This could also mean going for a walk / bike ride, spending time outdoors, etc. and coming back home when things may have settled and feel safer. You may consider which spaces are safer at different times of the day and whether any of the spaces in your list could be unsafe at times, too. Prepare if you need to leave In case you need to leave home, it may be helpful to have any important information (e.g. phone numbers, locations, etc.) for safer places you can go. You can also spend some time thinking about how you might get there (e.g. walk, bike / scooter, take public transit, ask someone you trust for a ride, etc.), who you’ll tell if you need to leave home (and where they can meet you, if that’s what you want) and what you’ll need to bring with you. If it’s an option for you, you can keep a packed bag somewhere hidden and accessible to you — this could even be stored outside the home in your locker at school, at a friend’s house, etc. You may want to include anything you may need while you’re away from home (e.g. clothes, money, food, transit passes, medications, phone chargers, etc.). List your personal / professional supports Consider keeping a list of all of the people and / or resources you can contact when you’re feeling unsafe. Your list may include family / community members, friends or other safe people as well as emergency / community services, etc. It may help to make note of phone numbers, addresses, directions, hours of operation and any Safety Plan continued
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