Safety plan
Private, specific, actionable, and ideally created collaboratively. It tells you what to do, who to contact, and how to reduce danger during a crisis.
Prepare before a crisis
Build a plan you can use when thinking is hard.
A safety plan is a short, personalized list of warning signs, coping steps, people, services, and ways to make your environment safer. Build it collaboratively with a clinician, counselor, or trained crisis supporter when possible.
The six parts of a safety plan
- Warning signs. List thoughts, feelings, situations, or behaviors that tell you a crisis may be developing.
- Internal coping strategies. Record safe actions you can try on your own to create time and lower the intensity of the moment.
- People and places for distraction. Identify supportive environments or people who can help you feel less isolated without requiring you to disclose everything immediately.
- People you can ask for help. Write names and current contact information for people you can tell directly that you need support.
- Professionals and crisis services. Include clinicians, local urgent care or emergency departments, and crisis lines such as 988.
- A safer environment. Plan how firearms, medications, or other lethal means will be removed, locked, or transferred to another responsible person.
Safety plan versus public pledge
Alive On Record pledge
Public, voluntary, and symbolic. It expresses a commitment to seek connection and help, but it cannot assess risk or replace a safety plan or care.
Keep the plan usable
- Save it where you can reach it quickly, including a paper copy if helpful.
- Tell the people named in the plan what you may need from them.
- Confirm phone numbers and service details periodically.
- Review the plan after a crisis, major life change, or change in treatment.
- Practice the first steps before you need them.