What is suicide safety planning?
Having thoughts of suicide can feel overwhelming. If you have been having thoughts of suicide, you may find it really hard to know what to do, or be in so much emotional pain you don't think you can cope.
A safety plan can be helpful during these times. It puts all your coping tools into a series of steps:
- Recognising your warning signs
- Making your surroundings safe
- Reminders of reasons to live
- Things that can make you feel strong
- People and places to connect with
- Family and friends you can talk or yarn with
- Professional support
While everyone's plan is personal and different, it can help in the same way.
Many people find that making a safety plan can be helpful, even if they are not experiencing suicidal thoughts.
You can use the exercise in the activity module to complete your own safety plan. You can also use other online tools such as this:
https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/beyond-now/ or download the Beyond Now suicide safety planning app.