Safety Plan

Functionality & Mechanism Developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this application facilitates the creation of a structured, six-step safety plan for managing suicidal crises. The interface guides the individual in documenting personal warning signs, internal coping strategies, social contacts, professional resources, and methods for reducing access to lethal means. The system integrates supplementary modules, including mood tracking and interactive calming tools. The completed plan is portable and can be shared with designated contacts for coordinated support.

Evidence & Research Context

• The app digitizes the Safety Plan Intervention, a brief, evidence-informed clinical technique designed as a collaborative therapeutic tool to mitigate suicide risk.
• The underlying intervention is intended to reduce the cognitive burden of problem-solving during a suicidal crisis, a state often associated with impaired executive functioning in serious mental illness.
• Construction of a safety plan has been a mandated clinical procedure for patients at risk of suicide within all U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities since 2008.
• The associated research notes that while the intervention is widely adopted, further investigation is needed to determine which patient populations benefit most and the optimal timing or mode of delivery.

Intended Use & Scope This tool is intended for individuals at risk of suicide to use as an adjunct to professional mental health care. Its primary utility is to create a portable, structured crisis response plan. The app does not constitute a standalone treatment and is not a substitute for clinical therapy or emergency services.