Personal Crisis Safety Plan
A step-by-step plan for managing emotional crises and staying safe
Personal Crisis Safety Plan
A step-by-step plan for managing emotional crises and staying safe
Personal Crisis Safety Plan
A step-by-step plan for managing emotional crises and staying safe
A safety plan is a personalized, prioritized list of coping strategies and resources you can use when experiencing a crisis or having thoughts of self-harm. Research shows that a written safety plan (Stanley & Brown, 2012) lowers suicidal behavior: in a large study of emergency department patients, those who made a plan and received follow-up calls had 45% fewer suicidal behaviors over six months (Stanley et al., 2018), and a meta-analysis supports the approach (Nuij et al., 2021). Complete this plan during a calm moment so it is ready when you need it. Share a copy with your therapist and a trusted person in your life.
Fill in each row during a time when you feel safe and grounded. Write down specifics: names, numbers and places. Review and update your plan regularly with your mental health provider. Keep it easily accessible (e.g., on your phone, in your wallet, or posted at home).
| Step | My Plan |
|---|---|
| Step 1. My warning signs: thoughts, feelings, situations or actions that tell me a crisis may be building | |
| Step 2. Things I can do on my own to take my mind off it, like a walk, music, a shower or slow breathing | |
| Step 3. People and places that help me feel better or give me a break | |
| Step 4. People I can ask for help, with their phone numbers | |
| Step 5. Professionals and crisis lines: my therapist or doctor, the nearest emergency room, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) | |
| Step 6. Making my space safer: how I will limit access to anything I could use to hurt myself |
References
- Nuij, C., van Ballegooijen, W., de Beurs, D., Juniar, D., Erlangsen, A., Portzky, G., O'Connor, R. C., Smit, J. H., Kerkhof, A., & Riper, H. (2021). Safety planning-type interventions for suicide prevention: Meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 219(2), 419-426. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2021.50
- 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
- Stanley, B., Brown, G. K., Brenner, L. A., Galfalvy, H. C., Currier, G. W., Knox, K. L., Chaudhury, S. R., Bush, A. L., & Green, K. L. (2018). Comparison of the safety planning intervention with follow-up vs usual care of suicidal patients treated in the emergency department. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(9), 894-900. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.1776
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Common Questions
What is the Personal Crisis Safety Plan worksheet?
A safety plan is a personalized, prioritized list of coping strategies and resources you can use when experiencing a crisis or having thoughts of self-harm.
How do I use the Personal Crisis Safety Plan worksheet?
Fill out this worksheet digitally or print it for use in session. You can save your progress with a Pro account. Take your time with each column — there are no right or wrong answers.
Is the Personal Crisis Safety Plan worksheet free?
Yes. Like every worksheet on Therapy Resource, it is free to read, print, and download as a PDF, no account required. A Pro subscription adds online filling with saved progress, practice-branded PDF exports, and secure client sharing.
Can I fill out the Personal Crisis Safety Plan worksheet online?
Yes. Switch the worksheet to "Type on Screen" mode to fill in the fields directly in your browser before printing. Pro members can also save their entries across sessions and export the completed worksheet as a branded PDF.
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