Smart Alert category

Emotional distress

Look for early signals of anxiety, withdrawal, or self-harm language so you can check in before things get worse.

Joey monitors tone and phrasing—not just keywords—to surface when a child sounds overwhelmed, checked out, or like they’re masking deeper pain.

What this alert monitors

Detects “I can’t do this anymore,” “no one would miss me,” and other self-harm indicators.
Looks for withdrawal markers like “I’m done with everyone” or “just leave me alone forever.”
Pairs alerts with context so you can see whether it was a fleeting vent or ongoing struggle.

Every family conversation is different. Treat these ideas as starting points and add your own context, values, and tone.

Respond with empathy before offering solutions; teens need to feel heard first.

If language indicates imminent risk, contact local crisis resources and keep a close eye on upcoming syncs.

Encourage journaling or therapy to process big feelings outside of chat apps.

Keep exploring

Each alert has its own landing page with context, scripts, and screenshots. Head back to the Smart Alerts overview to browse every category at once.