Crisis Safety Plan
Your emergency roadmap. Saved securely on this device.
Pre-populated based on clinical evidence for Emotion Dysregulation (BPD). Learn them before a crisis happens.
- Active suicidal ideation with a plan or access to means
- Self-harm that requires medical attention
- Psychotic symptoms: hearing voices, paranoid beliefs, dissociation that does not resolve
- Inability to contract for safety
- Threats of violence toward others
- Escalating self-harm urges that are not resolving with coping skills
- Significant dissociation — feeling unreal, not recognizing familiar people or places
- Sudden, complete withdrawal after a period of high intensity
- Statements of hopelessness combined with giving away possessions
- Substance use escalating rapidly
- Increased splitting — you are either all-good or all-bad with no middle ground
- Sleep disruption lasting more than 3 nights
- Missed therapy appointments
- Increased impulsivity: spending, driving, sexual behavior
- Marked increase in emotional reactivity to small events
Used in VA hospitals, crisis centers, and emergency departments worldwide. Fill it out before a crisis. Review it together regularly. Keep a copy on the refrigerator, in a wallet, and on a phone.
Warning Signs
Thoughts, moods, situations, or behaviors that signal a crisis may be developing.
Internal Coping Strategies
Things they can do on their own — without contacting anyone — to take their mind off the crisis.
People and Places That Provide Distraction
Social contacts or settings that can help shift focus — without necessarily discussing the crisis.
People I Can Ask for Help
Family members or friends who can help during a crisis — people they trust enough to tell what is happening.
Professionals and Agencies to Contact
Treatment providers, crisis lines, and emergency services.
741741 — Crisis Text Line (text HOME)
911 — Emergency Services
Making the Environment Safe
Specific steps to reduce access to lethal means. Refer to the Lethal Means Counseling section above.
One thing that makes life worth living
Research shows that identifying a specific reason to live — however small — is protective during a crisis.
Stanley, B. & Brown, G.K. (2012). Safety planning intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256–264.
What specific actions will you take when you notice warning signs? Personalize these for your situation.