When a mental health crisis happens, it can be hard to think clearly, explain what you need or remember who to call. A safety plan gives you and the people who care about you a simple written guide for getting through a difficult moment. It can help you notice warning signs earlier, use coping strategies that have worked before and connect with support before things become more dangerous.
At WellPower, we know crisis does not always look the same. It may feel like panic, intense sadness, thoughts of suicide, substance use, confusion, grief, trauma or feeling unable to stay safe. A safety plan can make it easier to respond with care instead of fear.
This guide explains what a safety plan is, when to use one and how to create your own. You will also find a free mental health crisis safety plan template you can copy, print or save on your phone.
If you need help right now
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988 for free, immediate support 24/7. In Colorado, you can also visit a walk-in crisis center for in-person help. WellPower operates Denver’s 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Center at 4353 E. Colfax Ave. Services are voluntary and available to people of all ages, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.
What is a mental health crisis safety plan?
A mental health crisis safety plan is a short, practical document that lists what to do when distress starts to build. It is not a test, contract or promise. It is a tool that supports safety, connection and choice when life feels overwhelming.
A strong safety plan is personal. It uses your words, your warning signs, your coping tools and your support network. It should be easy to find, read and share with trusted people. For children, teens or school-age kids, it should be written in age-appropriate language and created with caregivers, school staff or mental health professionals when possible.
The goal is to prepare during a calmer moment so you do not have to make every decision during a crisis. A safety plan can also help loved ones understand what is helpful, what is not helpful and when to seek professional support.
When should you create a safety plan?
The best time to create a safety plan is before a crisis, when things feel relatively stable. That gives you time to think about what support looks like and decide which steps feel realistic.
Consider creating a safety plan if you or someone you love has experienced thoughts of suicide, self-harm, panic attacks, depression, trauma symptoms, substance use concerns, relapse risk or intense stress. Safety plans can also help during life transitions, grief, school changes, family conflict, housing instability or other experiences that affect mental health.
For families, back to school can be a useful time to update safety plans. Mental health for kids is closely connected to routines, sleep, relationships, sensory needs, academic pressure and feeling safe. A plan can help caregivers and school-age kids identify what stress looks like at home and school, who they can talk to and how adults should respond during the school day.
What to include in a mental health crisis safety plan
Your safety plan should be simple enough to use in a hard moment. The following sections can help you build a plan that is clear, compassionate and action-oriented.
1. Warning signs
Start by naming signs that a crisis may be building In your life. These might include changes in sleep, appetite, mood, energy, concentration or substance use. You might notice racing thoughts, withdrawal, hopelessness, missed school or work, increased conflict, panic symptoms or thoughts of self-harm. This list of warning signs will be most helpful if it describes your experience specifically, rather than a general experience among other people.
2. Coping strategies you can try first
List a few things you can try on your own before reaching out. Keep them realistic and specific. Examples include taking five slow breaths, stepping outside, holding an ice cube, listening to music, taking a shower, using a grounding exercise, writing down what you feel or sitting in a quiet room with a pet.
3. People and places that help you feel safe
Write down names and phone numbers of people you can contact when you need support. Include at least one person who knows about the safety plan and has agreed to be listed. You might include a family member, friend, neighbor, therapist, school counselor, coach, spiritual leader or peer support person.
It can also help to list safe places. This might be a public library, community center, crisis center, caregiver’s home, school counseling office or other place where you can be around supportive people.
4. Professional support and crisis resources
Every safety plan should include crisis contacts and ongoing care information. If you are in Colorado and need immediate support, call or text 988. If you are in Denver and want in-person help, WellPower’s Walk-In Crisis Center is open 24/7/365 for mental health and substance use crises.
For ongoing care, WellPower provides mental health and behavioral health services for children, teens, young adults and adults. Services may include outpatient therapy, medication management, psychiatric care, case management, peer support, groups, school-based support and connections to resources such as housing, employment and food access.
5. Steps to reduce immediate danger
A safety plan should include steps that make the environment safer during a crisis. This may include asking a trusted person to stay nearby, moving to a shared space, removing or securing items that could be used for self-harm or avoiding places where substance use is more likely.
If suicide is a concern, be sure to include in the plan for someone to stay with you while you or they call or text 988, go to a walk-in crisis center or call 911 if there is an imminent risk of harm. Talking about suicide does not make it more likely to happen.
Safety planning for substance use and addiction concerns
Mental health and substance use often affect each other. A person may use alcohol or other substances to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, pain or stress. Over time, substance use can also increase distress, affect relationships and raise the risk of crisis.
If substance use management is part of your safety plan, include triggers, high-risk times, safer coping options and people you can contact before using or when cravings feel intense. You might also list steps such as avoiding certain locations, removing substances from the home, attending a recovery group, calling a sponsor or support person or going somewhere safer.
WellPower offers substance use recovery services for adults, including integrated mental health and addiction care. Options may include individual and group therapy, psychiatry, peer support, Intensive Outpatient Program services and Medication Assisted Treatment for opioid use disorder. WellPower also offers same-day support for adults seeking help with opioid use disorder.
Free mental health crisis safety plan template
Use this template as a starting point. You can fill it out on your own, with a therapist or with someone you trust. If you are creating a plan for a child or teen, invite them to participate as much as they are able.
My warning signs
- What thoughts, feelings or body sensations tell me I may be heading toward crisis?
- What changes might others notice in my behavior?
- What situations, places or stressors tend to make things worse?
Things I can try first
- A grounding skill I can use:
- A calming activity that helps:
- A place I can go to feel safer:
- A reminder I want to tell myself:
People I can contact
- Name and phone number:
- Name and phone number:
- Name and phone number:
- What I want them to do or say:
Professional support
- Therapist or provider:
- Clinic or care team:
- School counselor or trusted school contact:
- 988 Mental Health Line: Call or text 988
- WellPower crisis services: Visit wellpower.org/crisis-services
Steps to make my space safer
- Items or places I should avoid during crisis:
- Items that should be moved or secured:
- Person who can help make the space safer:
- Where I can go if I cannot stay safe at home:
Substance use recovery supports, if needed
- My substance use warning signs or triggers:
- People I can call before using or when cravings are intense:
- Recovery supports, groups or appointments:
- WellPower substance use recovery information: Visit wellpower.org/substance-use-recovery
How to use your safety plan
Once your plan is written, keep it easy to access. Save a photo on your phone, print a copy for your room or backpack and share it with the people listed.
Review the plan regularly. Update it after a crisis, before major transitions, at the start of a school year or whenever coping tools, support people or care providers change. If a strategy does not help anymore, replace it. If a new person becomes part of your support system, add them.
Most importantly, practice the plan before you need it. Coping skills are easier to use when they feel familiar.
How WellPower can help
WellPower provides mental health and behavioral health care across the lifespan in Denver. Our services include crisis support, child and family services, teen and young adult services, adult services, outpatient treatment, psychiatry, medication management, substance use recovery, peer support and community-based care.
To learn more about services or request support, visit wellpower.org/appointment or call (303) 504-7900. If you are not sure where to start, reaching out is enough. You do not have to know exactly what kind of care you need before asking for help.
If you are seeking support for addiction or substance use, WellPower’s substance use recovery services can help people address mental health and substance use together. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or visit WellPower’s crisis services page for immediate options in Denver.
You do not have to wait until things get worse. Asking for help early is a sign of care, strength and hope. Whether you are planning for yourself, supporting a loved one or preparing your family for back to school, a safety plan can be one step toward steadier support and a safer next moment.
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