#Button align.

The Safetyfeature located around the WCSS site allows visitors the option to quickly switch to an inconspicuous site, if they feel at risk of being seen seeking support, especially when accessing mental health services. Having specialised in domestic violence, I understand how vital it is to protect vulnerable individuals from potential harm while ensuring they have access to resources that support recovery. Careful planning is essential to make sure the right tools and safeguards are in place and ready to use if they are needed.

I worked within an agency that ran a licenced course to individuals experiencing domestic violence. An important resource given to course members was a book, that contained safety and action plans and emergency contacts. It was an important resource that was most effective being close by to the individual. The course developers designed the book to be as inconspicuous as possible within a home environment.

The course developers created a book styled as a cookbook, complete with front and back covers designed to look authentic. Inside, it used metaphors to convey safety strategies. For example, “What to do if you overcook the chicken” translated to “What to do if you need to escape a high-risk situation,” which would be explained during the course. The book could be placed on a bookshelf, hidden in plain sight.

I included the safety feature with a similar goal: to protect visitors if they were being monitored—such as by a partner wanting to see what content was viewed. At a moment’s notice, clicking a button or image would redirect the visitor to a neutral page, such as GIFs of cats or BBC Food, depending on what seemed most appropriate. When developing this feature, I carefully considered colours, positioning, server response time, and the types of links used to ensure it worked smoothly and without difficulty.

It’simportant to research and understand a site’s user base and tailor features to their needs. This feature is an example of that approach. For sites accessed by potentially vulnerable users, it’s worth considering wider adoption of this functionality, as its implementation and integration could one day save a life.