Safety Plan

A safety plan is a prioritized written list of coping strategies and sources of support that Veterans can use before or during a crisis.

Safety plans are commonly used with healthcare providers and is separate from the recovery plan. While some of the information in the safety plan is covered in the recovery plan, there is also several new areas you should fill out.

Warning signs can be thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that appear or increase when you get distressed. These are signs that you should use your Safety Plan. Select the Add Warning Signs Button to view and add examples for this category.

Add as many strategies as you can think of that will help you when you're feeling depressed, anxious, or unsafe. What can you do, on your own, to help you stay safe and to not act on suicidal thoughts or urges? Try to think of things you may have tried in the past that were helpful. Select the Add Coping Strategies Button to view and add examples for this category.

Consider who you could contact or where you could go to take your mind off your problems or help you feel better. This could be anyone, from a friendly acquaintance to a close friend, and anywhere, from the library to a local coffee shop. It can be helpful to add places that are open late at night or early in the morning. This is a place for you to list contacts or acquaintances, or other people in public settings that can provide distraction. They do not necessarily have to be people that you would tell you are feeling suicidal. It is more important that they are people that you can talk to about everyday things. Select the Add Social Distractions Button to view and add examples for this category.

Which family members or friends should be included in your plan? Who can support you in a time of crisis? Select the Add Family and Friend Examples Button to view and add examples for this category.

What medical or mental health professionals can you contact in a time of crisis? Add them here so that you can quickly reach them if you. are in crisis. If you need to go to an emergency room or urgent care center, where will you go? Add the details, including phone number and address, to your contacts here. Select the Add Professionals to Call Examples Button to view and add examples for this category.

Do objects in your environment pose a risk to your safety? Think about weapons, toxins, drugs, alcohol, etc. What are ways you can make your environment safer and protect yourself from self-harm until the crisis passes? Who can you enlist to help you keep your home safe? You might share your plans with a family member or roommate, so they know how to help if you reach out to them in a time of crisis. Select the Add Items to Keep Yourself Safe Button to view and add examples for this category.

Congratulations, you have completed the Safety Plan.

Now decide how you would like to keep all of your information so you can access it when you need it. You can choose one method or all of them, it's up to you. For an explanation of each method, visit the Help Page.