INCREASE LETHAL MEANS SAFETY AND SAFETY PLANNING
Safety Planning
Whether you are at risk, or if you know someone who could use support, it is worth the time to create a plan. A safety plan is a step-by-step list of coping strategies to help veterans navigate a crisis. If you are experiencing a suicidal crisis, reach out to a clinician for a suicide risk assessment and work with your clinician to create your safety plan.
Make A Safety Plan
A safety plan includes 6 steps:
- Warning signs:
How will you know that the safety plan should be used? What are your signs of a crisis? - Internal coping strategies:
What are things you can do to distract yourself from a crisis without contacting others? - Social contacts to distract from crisis:
Write down the name and phone number of 3 people or places that provide healthy distractions. - Family members or friends who can offer help:
Write down the name and phone number of 4 people who you can call for help. - Professionals and agencies to contact for help:
Write the name and number for 4 professionals and agencies that can help you in a crisis. This can include the Veteran Crisis Line, your doctor, or a local emergency department. - Making the environment safe:
Write your plan for limiting access to lethal means, or removing them from your environment. Additional lethal means information can be found here.
Print Your: VA Suicide Safety Plan Worksheet
Lethal Means Planning
Lethal means safety is an important part of suicide prevention. Access to means can place a person at greater risk. (Info about programs in NYS for storing lethal means.)
CALM Training
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means can help you feel prepared to talk with people about means safety.
While this course is primarily designed for mental health professionals, others who work with people at risk for suicide, like social service professionals and health care providers, may also benefit from taking it.
After completing this course you will be able to:
- Warning signs:
How will you know that the safety plan should be used? What are your signs of a crisis? - Internal coping strategies:
What are things you can do to distract yourself from a crisis without contacting others? - Social contacts to distract from crisis:
Write down the name and phone number of 3 people or places that provide healthy distractions. - Family members or friends who can offer help:
Write down the name and phone number of 4 people who you can call for help. - Professionals and agencies to contact for help:
Write the name and number for 4 professionals and agencies that can help you in a crisis. This can include the Veteran Crisis Line, your doctor, or a local emergency department. - Making the environment safe:
Write your plan for limiting access to lethal means, or removing them from your environment. Additional lethal means information can be found here.
For More Information: CALM Training Course