Help someone create a suicide safety plan

What is a suicide safety plan?

A suicide safety plan can be helpful for someone who is feeling suicidal, with research suggesting that it can reduce the intensity of suicidal thoughts and increase the person’s ability to cope. [1]

A suicide safety plan has a set of practical steps a person can take to help them cope when they are feeling overwhelmed and suicidal. The plan also lists people and services available to help and support the person.

If someone close to you is considering suicide, a safety plan can remind them of reasons to live, and it can help to keep them safe.

What is in a suicide safety plan?

A suicide safety plan can include the following:

• The warning signs to look out for that indicate the person is experiencing emotional distress.
• Personal reminders for living.
• Activities that have worked in the past that help to relax and comfort the person.
• A list of trusted people with contact details who they can reach out to if needed.
• Information on how to keep their environment safe and remove anything they can use to harm themselves.
• A list of health and mental health professionals and services, including availability and opening hours.
• Emergency contact details.

For more information, see our Making a Safety Plan page.

How to help someone create a safety plan

When someone is dealing with suicidal thoughts, it is essential that each step of their safety plan feels manageable to them. And while you can help with some aspects, the person must feel like they have ownership of each stage of their plan.

Ways you can help:

• Research and list crisis support options such as 24/7 helplines and the person’s local hospital.
• Gather the contact details of the mental health and medical professionals available to the person.
• Help them create a list of trusted people they can contact when things get tough.
• If creating the plan becomes too difficult for the person, encourage them to take a break and return to it later.
• Use an easy-to-follow app like Beyond Now that walks you through seven steps to create a plan.

Ideally, the suicide safety plan should be created when the person is feeling calm and relaxed.

Crisis phone helplines

Here are some crisis phone helplines available in Australia:

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Lifeline 13 11 14

13YARN 13 92 76

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Beyond Now safety planning app

Beyond Now is a free suicide safety planning app you can use to make a step-by-step plan to help keep a person safe. The app helps to create a structured safety plan that can be worked through when experiencing distress, suicidal thoughts, or crisis.

It can help:

• Recognise warning signs.
• Create a safe space.
• Identify reasons to live.
• Turn to internal coping strategies.
• Turn to socialisation strategies for distraction and support.
• Reach out to trusted contacts for help.
• Reach out to professional contacts for help.

Beyond Now is designed to be used as part of the person’s overall mental wellbeing and safety strategy. It is not intended to be their only form of support. Preferably, the person should work with a health professional or support person to create their plan when they are feeling calm and relaxed.

If you or the person you are with are in an emergency or at immediate risk of harm, please call emergency services on triple zero (000).

How can I access the Beyond Now app?

You can download the iPhone App here.

You can download the Android App here.

You can access the web version here.

In an emergency

If you are with someone who is in immediate danger or concerned for their safety in any way:

• Call 000 and request an ambulance. Stay on the line, speak clearly, and be ready to answer the operator’s questions.
• Visit your local hospital’s emergency department.

Get Help Now

If you are worried about someone, and need someone to talk to, call Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 to speak to a counsellor. Our service is free and available 24/7.

If it is an emergency, please call 000.

References

[1] https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/resources/beyond-now-safety-planning