What Is A Safety Plan?

As we navigate the world, it's important to have tools that help us feel prepared and secure, especially when facing difficult moments. In therapy, one of those important tools is a safety plan. Research shows that safety plans are an effective tool in reducing suicidal behavior and can help plan for strong emotions, self-harm, and other tricky behaviors in kids and families.

But what exactly is a safety plan, what goes into it, and how does it help?

What IS a Safety Plan?

A safety plan is a special map that helps kids and teens navigate big emotions and overwhelming feelings. The main goal of a safety plan is to make sure kids and teens have strategies in place to help them manage their feelings and stay safe when there is a risk of suicide, self-harm, or other unhelpful behaviors. When a child or teen shares they are struggling with suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors, it’s common for a therapist to help them develop a Safety Plan. Sometimes, therapists help clients develop a Safety Plan one-on-one and then share it with families. Other times, kids and teens develop a Safety Plan with their therapist and family. Either way, it’s important that kids and teens are active participants in developing the plan - and that kids AND families understand the plan and how to use it.

Safety plans are not no-suicide contracts. Safety plans cannot guarantee that someone will stay safe. They do offer young folks options to tolerate stressful moments and get support instead of acting on impulses. Research shows that impulsive behavior plays a big role in suicidal ideation.

What’s In a safety plan?

Safety plans are always individualized and developed collaboratively with the child or teen client, then shared and discussed with the family. But what exactly does a Safety Plan consist of?

Warning Signs (Prompting Events for Distress)

The therapist helps the child and the family identify feelings, sensations, situations, and/or thoughts that indicate it’s time to use the plan (i.e., thoughts of dying, feeling hopeless). This may also include warning signs that others notice, like locking oneself in the bathroom or withdrawing from the family. Identifying these warning signs can help family members better support their child or teen.

Coping Strategies

The Safety Plan also includes coping strategies. A client can use these skills and strategies to help get through painful or difficult emotions without making a situation worse. They can be distracting activities such as drawing, talking to a trusted adult, listening to music, or playing with a pet. Coping skills can also include grounding activities such as deep breathing, holding ice, or moving one’s body. 

Support System

Kids and teens need to know who their support system is in an emotional crisis. The support system consists of trusted people the client can contact to get support, distraction, and aid when they feel distressed or overwhelmed. The support system can include parents, relatives, chosen family members, friends, or others. Having at least one trusted, safe adult (someone over 18 years old) in the support system is helpful. The support system doesn’t solve a client’s emotional crisis or provide therapy. The support system offers distraction, love, humor, and care. 

Safe Environment

The Safety Plan also includes ways to make a child or teen’s environment safer at home. This may include locking up sharps, medications, or other materials the client and family have noticed can be unsafe during impulsive moments. 

Emergency Contacts and Locations

Different from the support system, Emergency Contacts are the people the client can call or reach out to for emergency support and guidance. This may include suicide crisis lines, parents, local emergency numbers, or other reliable emergency contacts. Safety Plans include information on the nearest emergency departments or other safety locations. This section should also clearly indicate steps the client and family can take if the safety plan is not helping and the client has an immediate emergency need.

How to USE a Safety Plan?

Safety plans are not something to be hidden away; they're meant to be used when needed. It’s important to keep your child’s plan in a safe and easily accessible place. Your child’s therapist will help them become more comfortable with their plan and keep it updated through regular Safety Plan check-ins. Parents also play a role in helping kids feel more comfortable using a Safety Plan. Parents and caregivers can work with their child’s therapist to learn the most helpful way to talk about the Safety Plan and check in on their child’s mood. 

Safety Plans are powerful tools for helping kids and teens navigate tough emotions and challenging situations. Although Safety Plans cannot guarantee a child’s safety, they can provide a structured guide for support.

At Mind Chicago, we work hand-in-hand with kids, teens, and their families to create personalized Safety Plans, provide compassionate support and therapeutic tools, and foster greater well-being.

If you have further questions or concerns, Mind Chicago is here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Authored by Mind Chicago therapists Courtney Chamerski, LSW and Dr. Lee Wells, LCSW