You might have heard of safety planning, but what do we mean by it?
A safety plan is a record of what and who might support you in a crisis. This can be especially helpful for someone who is thinking about suicide.
David Stocks, Suicide Prevention Community Inclusion Worker at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, explains: “Firstly, a safety plan is for everyone. If you have a car, most people would have breakdown recovery for it. What happens if you have a mental health crisis? A safety plan is effectively breakdown recovery for your brain.”
How to write a safety plan
Safety plans are brief and easy to read. You write them in your own words, and they can help you feel more in control. Anyone can benefit from having a safety plan to help keep themselves well.
If you are not sure where to start, take a look at these safety plan templates from Staying Safe.
David has this advice: “The best time to fill a safety plan in is when you are well. In it, you write what things you can do right now to help with a crisis. Things you can do to distract you. How to make your situation safe. People you can contact. Emergency contacts.”
What goes into a safety plan?
A safety plan may include techniques to distract you, what to do in an emergency and reminders of positive parts of your life you want to hold onto.
What do you love to do and what brings you joy? Note them down in your plan for reminders of things and activities that make you feel calmer.
Jot down a list of people who you can chat to if you need them, and their contact details.
Write down activities that help to distract you and take your mind off distressing feelings. Maybe this could be texting a friend or exercising.
What can you do to improve your safety? In the short term, is there a place you can go to feel safer? In the longer term, is there anything you can remove from your home that you may hurt yourself with? If you live in the Black Country, you might want to add the details of your local Sanctuary Hub. These are safe, supportive places where you can get face-to-face support during weekday evenings and weekends.
It’s important to write down the contact details of emergency contacts that can support you in a crisis. Note down your GP, and the contact details of any services you may be under.
Remember, you can now call 111 and select the mental health option (option 2) to get help 24/7 from a mental health professional.
David uses his personal experience to help others, including raising awareness of the importance of safety planning.
He added: “I am lucky to be alive. If I had a safety plan when I needed it most, it would have helped me through that time, safely and securely. I have a safety plan now, please make sure you and people around you have one too.”
For more details on how to access help in a crisis, please visit: https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/contact-us/help-crisis