When there is risk for suicide or self-harm, it’s important to plan ahead. Let your support system know how you are feeling and a professional can do an assessment to determine the best level of care to keep you safe. These plans should be developed before you are at-risk so that you can have a solid plan ready when you are in a tough spot.
Here are some questions to consider for your personal safety plan:
- What are your warning signs or triggers?
- What are your coping skills? What gets in the way of using these skills?
- Who are people that you can reach out to?
- How can I keep myself and my surroundings safe?
- Who are professionals on your care team that you can contact?
- What are some emergency numbers that you can call?
Suicide hotline available 24 hours: 800-273-8255
Peer-run emotional support line
If you have a friend that is struggling, remember that it is proven that talking about suicide does not increase the risk of suicide. It is important for the person to get their thoughts and feelings out in the open. Always consult a professional if you know someone is a risk so that the individual can be evaluated.
Here is some simple examples of safety plans:
Caroline Hubschman, LSW 