Make A Safety Plan

A safety plan is a tool to help you navigate through a crisis and regain a sense of safety. Keep it easily accessible for when you have thoughts of hurting yourself.

Here are the key steps to developing your personal safety plan:

Recognize Your Warning Signs

What thoughts, images, moods, situations, or behaviors tell you that a crisis might be starting? Write these down in your own words.

Use Your Own Coping Strategies

List things you can do by yourself to help you avoid acting on urges to harm yourself.

Connect with Others for Support and Distraction

List people and social settings that can help take your mind off difficult thoughts or feelings. Make a list of supportive family members or friends you can talk to when you're feeling stressed.

Contact Mental Health Professionals or Agencies

Create a list of names, numbers, and locations for clinicians, local emergency rooms, and crisis hotlines. Add the 988 Lifeline number (988) to your phone.

Ensure Your Environment is Safe

If you've thought about ways you might harm yourself, work with a counselor to develop a plan to limit your access to those means.