Crafting Effective Safety Plans Within Time Constraints

When working with a person who is at risk of suicide to develop a response to their concerns, it can sometimes feel as if it is impossible to discuss everything you’d like in the time you have available.

Developing a safety plan in collaboration with the person is a key evidence-based response to suicidal distress (e.g., Ferguson et al., 2022; Nuji et al., 2021). 

In the SafeSide Framework, this process begins with developing a contingency plan for each foreseeable change, including steps to enhance lethal means safety. 

The collaborating partners then identify warning signs, reasons for living, internal coping strategies, healthy distractions, and natural and professional supports or contacts (e.g., Knapp, 2023; Stanley et al., 2018; Jobes, 2023). 

That can feel like a lot to accomplish in the time you have. So, when time is limited, there are a few crucial points to remember:

• Identifying a few actions the person is willing to take is better than a long list of strategies they won’t use. 
• One important first step is developing contingency plans for two foreseeable changes and for enhancing lethal means safety. You can then add to these and develop a broader safety plan as time allows.  
• If other people are listed/involved for support, be sure that you or another team member have explained to the person what it means to have someone listed on the plan. 

Before ending the conversation:

• Ensure that the person knows how and when they’ll use the plan
• Ask how likely they are to use it (you can use a scale of 1-5 to help). If the likelihood is low, then follow up to ask what they need to make the plan one they would use.