What is a mental health safety plan?

A mental health safety plan is a written, step-by-step strategy that helps individuals recognize warning signs, use coping skills, contact supportive people, and restrict access to lethal means during moments of heightened suicide risk. It is a collaborative, evidence-based clinical intervention — not a verbal promise or “no-harm contract.”

What is the Safety Planning Intervention (SPI)?

The Safety Planning Intervention is a structured, six-step model developed by Stanley and Brown. SPI guides clinicians and clients through identifying warning signs, internal coping strategies, social supports, crisis resources, and means safety steps. It is one of the most widely studied safety planning approaches and has demonstrated significant reductions in suicidal behavior.

How is a safety plan different from a no-suicide contract?

No-suicide contracts ask clients to promise they won’t harm themselves, but research shows they do not reduce suicidal behavior. A safety plan, by contrast, teaches specific skills for surviving a crisis, includes concrete coping strategies, addresses lethal means safety, and has strong empirical support.

When should clinicians create a mental health safety plan?

A safety plan should be created whenever a client is experiencing suicidal ideation, has a history of self-harm, or presents with risk factors such as major depressive episodes, hopelessness, or significant psychosocial stressors. Plans should be updated as risk levels change.

How often should a mental health safety plan be reviewed?

Safety plans should be reviewed regularly — especially during elevated risk, after a crisis, at transitions of care, or any time new information emerges about the client’s safety or environment. Reviewing plans helps reinforce coping strategies and ensures accuracy.

How does ICANotes support safety planning?

ICANotes includes the Stanley-Brown Safety Plan as a built-in form, allowing clinicians to complete the plan collaboratively in session, save it to the chart, and share a copy with the client. The plan can be referenced directly in progress notes, crisis intervention notes, and discharge summaries to ensure thorough, consistent documentation.

Can I download a mental health safety planning PDF?

Many clinicians prefer a printable PDF version of the safety plan to share with clients. ICANotes’ built-in Stanley-Brown Safety Plan can be printed or shared via the portal, making it easy to provide clients with a usable, portable plan during times of crisis.