Free. No sign-up. Nothing you type is stored.
Before you start
A safety plan is a short list, in your own words, of what to do if things get very hard or thoughts of suicide come up. You make it now, while things are calmer, so it is ready when you need it.
- It works best made together with a therapist, or with someone you trust.
- There are seven short steps. Skip any step and come back to it later.
- Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere. When you close this page it is gone, so print or copy your plan at the end.
An educational aid to use with a therapist, teacher or parent. It is not a medical device and does not diagnose anything.
What a safety plan is
A safety plan is a short, personal list of what to do when things get very hard or thoughts of suicide come up. It is written ahead of time, while things are calmer, in the person's own words. In a crisis it is hard to think clearly, so the plan does the thinking in advance: notice the signs, try what helps, reach out to people, and know exactly who to call.
This builder follows the order of steps in the Safety Planning Intervention developed by Barbara Stanley and Gregory Brown (Stanley and Brown, 2012), written in our own words. In a large study of people seen in hospital emergency departments, those who made a safety plan and got follow-up calls had fewer suicidal behaviors in the next six months than those who got usual care (Stanley and colleagues, 2018). A plan is one part of care, not a replacement for it.
The seven parts of a safety plan
- Warning signs. Thoughts, feelings, situations or things you do that tend to come before the hardest times. Noticing them early is your cue to turn to the rest of this plan.
- Things I can do on my own. Small, simple things you can do by yourself to calm down or take your mind off things for a while. Pick ones you would really do, even on a bad day.
- People and places that help distract me. Being around other people, or just out of the house, can take the edge off. The people here do not need to know you are struggling. Being with them is the point.
- People I can ask for help. People you trust and can reach, who you could tell that you are struggling and ask for help. It helps to let them know they are on your plan, and what you might need from them.
- Professionals and crisis lines. Your therapist and other providers, the crisis lines, and the nearest emergency room. The crisis lines are already on your plan.
- Making my space safer. A suicidal crisis often rises and passes. Putting time and distance between yourself and anything you could use to hurt yourself is one of the most protective things you can do. Plan this with your therapist or someone you trust, and ask them to help.
- My reasons for living. People, hopes, beliefs and things you love. Big or small, these are worth writing down. They go at the top of your plan, so they are the first thing you see.
Making a safety plan in a therapy session
- Make it together, and let the client choose the words. A plan in their own language is one they will recognize and use.
- Start by going back over the most recent crisis: what came before it, and what helped, even a little. Warning signs and coping steps often come straight out of that story.
- For each step, ask what could get in the way. "What if your sister doesn't pick up?" leads to a second name, which is worth more than a long list.
- Spend real time on making the space safer. Talk through medicines and firearms in particular, and who can help store them. Plan it with family where the client agrees.
- Ask how likely the client is to use the plan, and practice a step in the room, like calling or texting a crisis line.
- Decide where the plan will live: a printout, a photo, the wallet card, a note on the phone. Then review it at later sessions.
A safety plan is not a no-suicide contract and is not a risk assessment. Use it alongside your own assessment and your setting's procedures.
Using the safety plan template over telehealth
- At the start of the session, confirm where the client is and how to reach local emergency help there.
- Share your screen with the builder open, or send the link so the client can type on their own device.
- Go through the steps together. The crisis lines stay on screen the whole time.
- At the end, have the client print the plan, copy it into a note, or save the wallet card. Nothing is stored on our side, so make sure it is saved before you both leave the call.
Safety planning with teens
Teens can use the same steps. Let them do the writing, and keep their own words. Bring a parent or caregiver in for the steps that need an adult, especially making the home safer, and talk with the teen first about what will be shared. Add a school counselor or another trusted adult to the people they can ask for help. Many teens are more comfortable texting than calling, so point out that both 988 and the Crisis Text Line take texts.
Printable safety plan worksheet (PDF)
The free PDF has two pages: a blank one-page safety plan to fill in by hand, and wallet cards to cut out and fold. Print a few for your office, so a plan can be written on paper when that suits a client better than a screen. It is free to print and share.
Crisis lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988, any time, day or night.
- Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741.
- Emergency services. If you are in danger or might act on thoughts of suicide, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
These lines are in the United States. Outside the US, contact your local emergency number. If you are a New Yorker looking for ongoing support, we can match you with a therapist.
