A **self-reporter** is someone who logs into BEHCA as the profile (the person receiving support) rather than as staff. Messaging with self-reporters is **off by default**. Managers turn it on per profile when appropriate.

Your organization must already have Messages before this toggle does anything.

## Turn on messaging for a self-reporter

1. Open the person’s **profile**.
2. Open the **Self-Reporting** tab.
3. Find **Send & Receive Messages**.
4. Turn the switch **on**. It saves when you flip it.

Help text in the app: *Allow this person to message their care team in BEHCA.* DMs are **two-way**: the self-reporter and their care team can message each other, and **either person can start**.

On **Manage Profiles**, the **Self-reporting** column has a smile icon (self-reporting) and a comments icon (messaging). Grey means off; green means on. Both need to be green for the self-reporter to use chat. The comments icon only appears when Messages is available.

When the messaging switch is off:

- The self-reporter does not get Messages.
- Staff cannot start new DMs with them and cannot send on existing threads (history may still be readable for staff).

## What self-reporters can do when enabled

- Send and receive **direct messages** with their care team (staff, guests, and managers linked to that profile). Either person can start.
- Join and use a **regular channel** when they are the **only** self-reporter in that channel.
- Open **announcement channels** they were added to (read-only — they cannot post). Announcement channels may include **many** self-reporters.
- Use the same conversations on the website and in the mobile app.

## What self-reporters cannot do

- Message other self-reporting profiles.
- Join a regular channel that already has another self-reporter.
- Reply in announcement channels.
- Use manager-only tools (**Document**, company-wide search, View only oversight).

## What the care team can do

Staff, guests, and managers who have access to that profile can **start or reply** to a DM with the self-reporter. The self-reporter does not have to message them first.

- A **direct message** or **regular channel** may include **at most one** self-reporter.
- An **announcement channel** may include **many** self-reporters as read-only members — useful for organization-wide updates to people who self-report.

## Common questions

- **The self-reporter still doesn’t see Messages.** — Confirm the organization has Messages enabled, the profile toggle is on, and they are signed in as that profile (self-reporting), not as a staff user.
- **Can a team member message a self-reporter first?** — Yes. DMs are two-way. If they have access to that profile and **Send/Receive Messages** is on, either person can start.
- **Should clinical details go in Messages?** — Prefer Daily Tracking notes for the care record. Chat is for coordination; managers can **Document** a message into a note when needed.

## Related articles

- [Messages overview](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/messages-overview)
- [Announcement channels](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/announcement-channels)
- [Discussing notes and documenting messages](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/discussing-notes-and-documenting-messages)
- [Getting started as a self-reporter](https://support.behca.com/hc/behca-support/articles/getting-started-as-a-self-reporter)