Keep safe plans

Safety planning is an area that our trust are currently looking to develop further in order ensure a consistent approach across our Trust for service users. This will include consistent safety plan documents, training and a standard operating procedure. Please check back for more information.    

Some people find it helpful to write a keep safe plan, so that if they feel suicidal, they have a reminder of who they can contact and what helps them cope. An individual writes the plan when they’re feeling well, so they have a personal strategy for coping, if they feel suicidal.

A keep safe plan doesn’t need to be complicated. It might just include:

  • Numbers the person can ring.
  • Services the person can contact.
  • Distraction techniques and coping strategies that have worked for them in the past.
  • Other ways they might keep themselves safe and avoid acting on suicidal thoughts.

Each of the links below has a slightly different template for a keep safe plan.

This site has several pages on safety plans. The areas covered include what a safety plan is, how to make one and examples of how safety plans can help. There are also two safety plan templates, one can be filled in online and saved as a PDF, the other needs to be downloaded and printed, before it can be completed.This site has several pages on safety plans. The areas covered include what a safety plan is, how to make one and examples of how safety plans can help. There are also two safety plan templates, one can be filled in online and saved as a PDF, the other needs to be downloaded and printed, before it can be completed.

Young people who call PAPYRUS can create online suicide safety plans, using the digital platform HOPELINK. The safety plan is simple to set up, secure and confidential. The aim of HOPELINK’s safety plan is to help young people stay safe when they have thoughts of suicide. Once a young person has set up their safety plan, they can revisit and update it 24/7, by clicking the HOPELINK button on PAPYRUS’ homepage.

PAPYRUS’ site also has a resources page, with different versions of a suicide safety plan which can be downloaded. Other downloads on PAPYRUS' site, which focus on helping young people cope, include:

  • Details of how to create a hope box or hope book.

  • Suggested distraction techniques.

  • Suggestions for coping strategies.

  • Apps for wellbeing.

Samaritans Self-Help is a web application that people can use online in their browsers, or install on a computer or smartphone.

The app lets people:

  • Keep track of their mood.

  • Try practical techniques to help them cope.

  • Record what makes them feel better.

  • Create a safety plan.

The Self-Help app is not monitored by Samaritans and Samaritans can't see what people write in it.

The free, Stay Alive App includes a template for a safety plan and a range of other resources to help people stay safe.