Safety & helplines

1. Helplines in other countries

Any other country: findahelpline.com lists free helplines in your country. If you are not safe right now, call your local emergency number.

2. Calling a helpline: what to expect

If you have never called one before, this is usually how it goes:

1. Dial the number. You may hear a short recorded message, or wait a little for someone to become free. It is okay to hold.
2. A trained person answers. They are there to listen, not to judge you or tell you off.
3. Start however you like. Even "I don't know how to say this" or "I'm not okay" is a good start.
4. You usually do not have to give your name. Share only what you want to.
5. If the line is busy or no one answers, try again, or try another number on this page.

3. What BUBU does when you may be in danger

• Every message is checked before BUBU's AI is allowed to reply. Two checks run: a fixed list of warning phrases, and a separate safety model that reads the message together with the last few turns. If the list matches, the safety response always happens, whatever the model thinks.
• If it looks like you may be at risk of harming yourself, of being harmed, or of harming someone else, BUBU shows and reads out helpline numbers for your country. It stays with you and keeps talking.
• This never needs a subscription. It still works when your daily messages have run out.
• Once something worrying has been said, BUBU stays more alert for the rest of that conversation.
• BUBU never gives information about ways to harm yourself, however the question is asked.
• If you say you feel low or hopeless, BUBU will stay with you and talk it through. It brings up helplines when there are signs you may be in danger, not every time you say you are sad.

4. What happens to what you said

A message that triggers BUBU's safety response is stored like any other message: as text, for up to 12 months, with a note that it triggered the safety response. It is not sent to anyone else because of that, and BUBU does not contact anyone. See the Privacy Policy for details.

5. What BUBU cannot do

6. If you are worried about someone else

1. If they are in immediate danger, call your emergency number and stay with them if it is safe to.
2. Ask them directly how they are, and whether they are thinking about hurting themselves. Asking does not put the idea in their head.
3. Listen without judging, and take what they say seriously.
4. Help them reach support. Offer to sit with them while they call one of the helplines above, or a doctor.
5. Look after yourself too. Helplines support worried friends and family as well.

7. Making sure BUBU shows the right numbers

BUBU picks helplines from the country you gave when you signed up. If you move or travel, ask BUBU to change your country. If it does not have numbers for your country, it points you to findahelpline.com and your local emergency number.