Safety Plan Template

A safety plan is a personalised, written document that outlines what to do when you are in emotional crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm. Having a plan ready before you are in crisis is essential, because thinking clearly and generating solutions is much harder when you are in acute distress. This template guides you through creating your own safety plan, which you should keep accessible at all times — on your phone, in your wallet, or stuck to your fridge.

The safety plan follows a structured format. Step one: recognise your personal warning signs — the thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and physical sensations that signal the beginning of a crisis. Step two: list internal coping strategies — things you can do on your own to manage the distress, such as breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or activities that provide distraction. Step three: list people and social settings that provide healthy distraction — places you can go and people you can be around to take your mind off the crisis.

Step four: identify people you can contact for support — friends, family members, or professionals you can call when you need to talk. Include their names and phone numbers. Step five: list professional and crisis resources — your therapist's contact details, your GP surgery, NHS 111, Samaritans (116 123), Crisis Text Line (text SHOUT to 85258), and your nearest A&E department. Step six: make your environment safe by identifying steps you can take to remove or restrict access to means of self-harm during a crisis.

Review your safety plan regularly with your therapist and update it as your circumstances change. The existence of a safety plan does not mean you are expected to need it — it is simply a sensible precaution, in the same way that carrying a first-aid kit does not mean you expect an injury.