> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.goguardian.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Alert Phases

> Beacon identifies five alert phases that classify the type of online activity associated with a student's alert card.

GoGuardian Beacon classifies each detected alert into one of five phases. The phase reflects the nature of the online activity associated with the alert. Counselors and administrators use the phase to guide their response.

## Review Alert Phases

### Active Planning

**Active Planning** alerts are generated when Beacon detects online activity that may indicate a student is actively planning self-harm. This is the highest-severity phase and is subject to review and escalation by the Beacon 24/7 Safety Support team when the 24/7 service is enabled.

### Suicide Ideation

**Suicide Ideation** alerts are generated when Beacon detects online activity that may reflect a student expressing thoughts related to suicide — for example, writing "I want to die" — without indicating active planning.

### Self Harm

**Self Harm** alerts are generated when Beacon detects online activity that may reflect a student's desire to injure themselves on purpose, such as through cutting.

### Help & Support

**Help & Support** alerts are generated when Beacon detects that a student may be seeking help or support resources — such as hotline numbers, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention materials, or support forums — either for themselves or for a peer.

### Suicide Research

**Suicide Research** alerts are generated when Beacon detects that a student may be looking up general statistics or information about suicide, such as for a class assignment, rather than expressing personal ideation.

<Note>
  **Suicide Research** and **Help & Support** alert cards are not generated for activity on `.edu` or `.gov` websites.
</Note>

## Understand Phase and Escalation

Only **Active Planning** alerts are eligible for escalation to the Beacon 24/7 Safety Support team. All other phases generate notifications to the staff members listed in your school's email notification settings.

## Resources

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Review a Beacon 24/7 Alert" href="/products/beacon/review-a-247-alert">
    Step-by-step instructions for reviewing Active Planning escalations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Risk Levels" href="/products/beacon/risk-levels">
    How to assign and interpret risk levels on alert cards.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Alert Preferences" href="/products/beacon/alert-preferences">
    Configure which phases generate alerts and notifications.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Beacon 24/7 FAQ" href="/products/beacon/247-faq">
    Common questions about the Beacon 24/7 escalation service.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>