How do I create a Safety Plan with my client?

Here are some helpful resources for building a safety plan with your clients.

Stanley-Brown Safety Plan

A safety plan is a prioritized list of coping strategies and sources of support. It can help a client to identify what leads to thoughts of suicide, and how to feel better when having these thoughts.

You can download an up-to-date PDF version of this plan by clicking here.

For a script to post in the room, you can copy & paste the text below. To create a reusable script, copy the text below and follow the instructions in the Help Center article How do I create a script to send to my clients?

Step 1: What are your warning signs (thoughts, images, mood, situation, behavior) that a crisis may be developing?

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2.
3.

 

Step 2: What are your Internal coping strategies – Things I can do to take my mind off my problems without contacting another person (relaxation technique, physical activity)?

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Step 3: People and social settings that provide you with distraction?

1. Name:               Phone:
2. Name:               Phone:
3. Place:
4. Place:

 

Step 4: People whom you can ask for help?

1. Name:               Phone:
2. Name:               Phone:
3. Name:               Phone:
4. Name:               Phone:

 

Step 5: What professionals or agencies can you contact during a crisis?

1. Clinician Name:               Phone:               Pager/Emergency Contact #:
2. Clinician Name:               Phone:               Pager/Emergency Contact #:
3. Local 24-Hour Urgent Care Services:               Address:                             Phone:
5. Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number: 988
6. ProtoCall: Talkspace 24/7 phone crisis hotline 1-800-435-2197

 

Step 6: What ways can you make your environment safe?

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