Making a personal safety plan
3 min read 8 September 2026 by Jerry Makeri
A short, written plan made while you are calm, for the moments when you are not.
A safety plan is a few decisions made in advance, written down, so that you are not trying to think clearly at the worst possible moment.
What goes in it
- My early warning signs. What happens first, before things get bad.
- What settles me. Two or three things that genuinely work, not what ought to work.
- Who I will contact. One or two names, with their numbers written out.
- Where I can go. A place that is safe, and how I would get there.
- What I will remove. Anything that would make a bad moment worse.
- Emergency numbers. Written down, not only held in memory.
Keep it short and keep it near
One page. On paper, or a photograph on your phone. A plan you cannot find is not a plan.
Tell one person it exists
Someone else knowing your plan is part of the plan. It means that if you cannot reach for it, somebody else can.
If you are in danger right now, do not work through this. Contact your local emergency services or a trusted person nearby.
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