Safety Planning for Suicidal Thoughts

If you’re here, you’re likely trying to understand safety planning for you or someone you care about. Considering safety planning for suicidal thoughts is a meaningful step to take.

‍Research has shown that those who have safety plans have higher coping and help-seeking behaviors. However, if at any point you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Many people who have never created a safety plan before think that it means just filling out a form. In reality, it’s a tool developed collaboratively through conversations with yourself, a mental health professional, or loved ones. It can also be empowering as it’s written in your own voice and draws on your personal strengths. This article provides a clear, actionable guide to what a safety plan is, how it works, and how to create one.

What is a safety plan?

A safety plan is a personalized, step-by-step guide created to support someone when they’re experiencing distress or crisis. It includes warning signs, coping strategies, and safety resources.

These plans can be helpful in many mental health situations, but they are most commonly used when someone is experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide. It’s best to do safety planning for suicidal thoughts when you feel calm and are not in an active crisis. By doing so, you can create a clear and supportive plan that can be helpful during a crisis. 

What does a safety plan include?

While safety plans follow a similar structure, every plan is personal. There are no right or wrong answers, and it’s important to be honest to create a plan that supports you. Safety plans are written in a step-by-step manner that progresses from strategies you can complete on your own to asking for help. 

Step one: Recognizing your personal warning signs

Being aware of your warning signs can help you notice when it’s time to use your plan. This might include thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that let you know that your mental health needs attention, or you might start having suicidal thoughts.

Some examples of warning signs include trouble sleeping and pulling away from friends and family. You might also list situations that could trigger these thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. For example, conflicts with loved ones or financial difficulties.

Step two: Internal coping strategies

Internal coping strategies are self-calming activities that don’t involve others. You can include both strategies that have worked in the past or that you think might work in the future. Examples include taking a walk, practicing deep breathing, or doing a hobby. Think about what makes you more or less likely to use these strategies. This can help you figure out how to use them even when you're not feeling your best. 

Step three: People and places that provide distractions

Distractions can help occupy your mind when you’re feeling overwhelmed and can help you feel less isolated. Think about people or places that can distract you, or a safe place where you feel comfortable.

Examples include meeting a friend at a local coffee shop, sitting in the park, going to the library, calling a friend or family member to catch up, or attending a fitness class. List several people and places in this section in case one is unavailable. In this step, the goal isn’t necessarily to discuss your feelings, but to be around others and in situations that interrupt distressing thoughts. 

Step 4: People to reach out to for support

While the previous steps included self-supportive and distraction strategies, this step is the first one to reach out for help. In this section, list the names and phone numbers of people whom you trust and know you can reach out to for support in difficult moments.

It can be best to prioritize this list so that you’re able to move through it in order. You can also list how certain people might support you, such as meeting up with a friend or having a meal with a family member. Let the people on this list know that you may call them so they are aware. 

If no one comes to mind for you, that’s okay. Warmlines exist for this very reason. Warmlines are peer-run hotlines that can be used to provide people support and a sounding board during stressful times; of note, they aren’t for use in times of crisis.

Check out warmline.org to get connected to someone in your area. Reaching out for support to people in your life or a warmline can help prevent a crisis from developing. In the next step, you’ll list professionals and crisis lines that you can contact that are always available.

Step 5: Professionals and crisis lines to contact

This section lists professional resources that can help in a mental health crisis, including mental health professionals, local clinics, crisis lines, and emergency services.

You might list professionals you are working with who can be helpful in a crisis, such as therapists, as well as local clinics that can provide crisis stabilization support. Crisis lines can provide 24/7 support. You can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, and the American Psychological Association also provides a list of Crisis Hotlines. In an emergency, call 911.

Step 6: Making your environment safer

To make your space safer, remove or limit access to dangerous items or substances. You may remove them yourself or give them to a friend or family member to hold on to for you.

How to create a safety plan - with or without a provider

Creating a plan with a mental health provider is ideal because it can be more thorough and offer accountability. However, if you don’t currently have a mental health provider, you can work on creating a safety plan yourself or with a trusted friend or family member. Even an imperfect plan is better than none.

You might choose to create a digital or paper-based safety plan. Free digital tools, like the Safety Plan mobile app from Stanley-Brown, help you create your own plan. If you prefer a paper plan, they also offer a printable Safety Plan Template. If you’re interested in working collaboratively with a professional, Willow Health incorporates safety planning into our Crisis Program. 

How to use a safety plan during a crisis

Keeping your plan in an accessible place is important so you can follow the steps during a crisis. Some people keep their plans in their wallets, whereas others prefer to store them digitally on their phones so they’re always with them. Reviewing and updating your safety plan regularly can make it easier to use when distress feels intense or overwhelming 

How to recognize when to use your safety plan

In step one of your plan, you identified your personal warning signs. When you start noticing these signs, it’s time to use your safety plan. Some people may wonder if things are severe enough if they’re only noticing a few signs or if symptoms are still mild.

However, you don’t need to wait until you are at a crisis point to use your safety plan. Being proactive can help prevent things from escalating. Some people also choose to share their warning signs with a trusted friend or family member, who can help point them out if they notice them. 

What to do if the plan isn’t helping

If steps 1-4 of your safety plan aren’t helping, it’s time to move to steps 5 and 6. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to get support with crisis stabilization. Another option is to reach out to Willow Health’s Crisis Program. Urgent intake appointments are available within 24-48 hours.

How Willow Health supports safety planning

Safety planning is a core component of Willow Health’s crisis stabilization model. Clinicians co-create personalized treatment and safety plans with each person they work with. These plans are designed to address the underlying causes of their issues and connect the person to ongoing care, and they are not just a one-time crisis intervention. 

Frequently asked questions about safety planning

Do I need to be in a crisis to create a safety plan?

No. In fact, it’s best to create a safety plan when you’re not in an active crisis so you’re not feeling overwhelmed and can think clearly. That way your plan is ready and effective when you do need it.

Can I create a safety plan for a loved one?

A safety plan is highly personal, so it’s not something that you can create for someone else. However, safety planning for suicidal thoughts can be highly collaborative, so you can help a loved one create their plan should they ask for your help.

How often should a safety plan be updated?

A safety plan should be updated after a crisis, after life or treatment changes, and when you are no longer finding your coping skills helpful. It’s also helpful to review your plan regularly to check you are still finding strategies helpful, and that contact information is up-to-date.

What’s the difference between a safety plan and a wellness recovery action plan (WRAP)?

The main difference between a safety plan and a wellness recovery action plan (WRAP) is that a safety plan is a short-term tool designed for use during a crisis, whereas a WRAP is a long-term plan focused on ongoing mental health and wellness. A safety plan typically includes warning signs, coping strategies, and emergency resources. A WRAP focuses on daily wellness strategies, personal supports, and identifying triggers to help maintain stability over time. 

Sources

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Crisis hotlines and resources. Retrieved June 12, 2026, from https://www.apa.org/topics/crisis-hotlines 

Brown, G. K., Stanley, B., Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, & Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2009). Safety planning guide: A quick guide for clinicians. https://sprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SafetyPlanningGuide-Quick-Guide-for-Clinicians.pdf 

Pratt, R., MacGregor, A., Reid, S., & Given, L. (2013). Experience of wellness recovery action planning in self-help and mutual support groups for people with lived experience of mental health difficulties. The Scientific World Journal, 2013, Article 180587. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/180587 

Rainbow, C., Tatnell, R., Blashki, G., & Melvin, G. A. (2024). Safety plan use and suicide-related coping in a sample of Australian online help-seekers. Journal of Affective Disorders, 356, 492–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.053 

Stanley, B., & Brown, G. K. (2012). Safety planning intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2011.01.001 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Warning signs of suicide. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June 12, 2026, from https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior/warning-signs 

Warmline.org 

Stanley-Brown-Safety-Plan-05-02-2024.pdf