A safety plan is a simple, personalized tool that helps save lives during a mental health crisis. Developed in collaboration with a therapist, it helps people recognize warning signs, use healthy coping strategies, connect with support, and make their environment safer (Stanley & Brown, 2012).
What Is a Safety Plan?
A safety plan is a written, step-by-step guide for navigating moments of suicidal thoughts, self-harm urges, or intense emotional distress. It includes:
- Warning signs that signal a crisis may be developing and you need to use coping strategies.
- Internal coping strategies like deep breathing, exercise, or grounding.
- Trusted contacts including friends, family, or crisis lines such as 988 in the U.S.
- Professional help from a therapist, doctor, or emergency services.
- Means restriction, or making dangerous items less accessible.
Why Safety Plans Work
A safety plan is more than a worksheet—it’s a way to remind yourself, “I have options, I have support, and I have reasons to keep going.” When experiencing suicidal ideation, it can be like being in a tunnel where we temporarily lose sight of everything listed on the safety plan.
Research shows that safety planning can reduce suicide attempts by up to 43% compared to usual care (Ferguson et al., 2022; Nuij et al., 2021). It works by breaking a crisis into manageable steps, providing clear actions, and making sure people get immediate help (Rogers et al., 2022).
How to Make a USEFUL Safety Plan
- Work with a mental health professional to identify warning signs and helpful safety strategies.
- Write it down and make it easy to find. You might leave it somewhere in your phone or wallet.
- Review and update regularly so it reflects your current needs. Use skills and strategies you will ACTUALLY use.
- Practice using it. Like any skill, the more you practice, the easier it will be to utilize and can become a new habit.
Get Help Now
If you or someone you know is currently in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S., or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 free and confidential support.
References
Ferguson, M., Rhodes, K., Loughhead, M., McIntyre, H., & Procter, N. (2022). The effectiveness of the safety planning intervention for adults experiencing suicide-related distress: A systematic review. Archives of Suicide Research, 26(3), 1022–1045. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2021.1883087
Nuij, C., van Ballegooijen, W., de Beurs, D., Juniar, D., Erlangsen, A., Portzky, G., … Kerkhof, A. (2021). Safety planning-type interventions for suicide prevention: A meta-analysis. BJPsych Open, 7(2), e46. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.15
Rogers, M. L., Gai, A. R., Lieberman, A., Musacchio Schafer, K., & Joiner, T. E. (2022). Why does safety planning prevent suicidal behavior? Crisis, 43(6), 506–513. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000825
Stanley, B., & Brown, G. K. (2012). Safety planning intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2011.01.001