Safety Plan Template
Instructions for volunteers:
-This is a template for a personal safety plan which you can work on with a caller who may not know how to cope with thoughts of suicide
-Please ask the caller if they have a pen & paper before you begin, so they can keep this safety plan for future reference.
-The template may be tailored to suit an individual caller's needs
(for example, you may only need Step 1 and 2, or Step 4 and 5), but it can also be followed fully and in order.
-This is a template for a personal safety plan which you can work on with a caller who may not know how to cope with thoughts of suicide
-Please ask the caller if they have a pen & paper before you begin, so they can keep this safety plan for future reference.
-The template may be tailored to suit an individual caller's needs
(for example, you may only need Step 1 and 2, or Step 4 and 5), but it can also be followed fully and in order.
Step 1: What are some things that you can recognize in yourself which can remind you to use this safety plan? For example, any thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that may be a warning that a crisis is developing.
Examples: racing thoughts, feeling hopeless, feeling down, feeling depressed, self harm, stressful events
Examples: racing thoughts, feeling hopeless, feeling down, feeling depressed, self harm, stressful events
Step 2. What can you do to make sure that your environment is safe?
Examples: removing any weapons, pills or other objects which could pose a health or safety risk, holding a soft or harmless object to keep hands busy.
Examples: removing any weapons, pills or other objects which could pose a health or safety risk, holding a soft or harmless object to keep hands busy.
Step 3. What are some internal coping strategies that you can use?
Examples: meditate, exercise, listen to music, watch a movie/tv show/youtube, writing, etc.
Examples: meditate, exercise, listen to music, watch a movie/tv show/youtube, writing, etc.
Step 4. Who are some people that you know or organizations you can call to either talk about this with you, or distract you?
Examples: LGBT National Help Center, Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Emergency services, 911, therapist, school counselor, teacher, trusted friends or family members.
Examples: LGBT National Help Center, Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Emergency services, 911, therapist, school counselor, teacher, trusted friends or family members.
Name |
Number |
Name |
Number |
Example: Suicide Hotline |
1-800-SUICIDE |
||
Example: Trevor Project |
866-488-7386 |
||
LGBT National Youth Talkline |
800-246-7743 |
||
Step 5: Where are some safe places that you can go to either to get help or distract you?
Examples: Distracting safe places: a local coffee shop, library, local mall, taking a walk (in a safe place at a safe time)
Places to get help: local LGBT community center, support group, social group, etc.
Examples: Distracting safe places: a local coffee shop, library, local mall, taking a walk (in a safe place at a safe time)
Places to get help: local LGBT community center, support group, social group, etc.