Lates News & Articles

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, and we are returning to the final step, Reducing the Potential for Use of Lethal Means, to review some practical steps, especially for firearm use. Remember that I mentioned in my last post that means restriction is not […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, and we are ready to explore the final step, Reducing the Potential for Use of Lethal Means. This final step in the Safety Plan is particularly important when someone considering suicide has developed a plan.  Once someone has selected […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, and we are ready to explore the fifth step, Professional and Agency Contacts to Help Resolve Suicidal Crises. If the prior four steps are ineffective in resolving the suicidal crisis, the person in crisis is encouraged to contact a […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, and we are moving on to the fourth step, Social Contacts for Assistance in Resolving Suicidal Crises. The first three steps are Recognition of Warning Signs, Internal Coping Strategies, and Socialization Strategies for Distraction and Support.  If these three strategies are not […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, and we are moving on to the third step, Socialization Strategies for Distraction and Support. The first two steps are Recognition of warning signs and Internal coping strategies such as internal distractions – favorite music or movies, exercise, walking, hobbies, etc..  If these […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, and we are moving on to the second step, Internal Coping Strategies. The question for the person considering suicide in this second step is “What can you do, without involving anyone else, if you begin thinking suicidal thoughts again?  […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, and we are looking at the first step, Safety Plans: What am I looking for? In 2005, The American Association of Suicidology published an acronym of major warning signs to look for: I – Ideation S – Substance Abuse   P – […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract and The Safety Plan Initiative, and how it is an improvement over the no-harm/no-suicide contract. The first step in the Safety Plan is recognition of warning signs.  Within the field of suicidology, we distinguish between warning signs and risk factors.  Warning […]

I’ve been writing about the Safety Plan as a brief suicide intervention, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract and The Safety Plan Initiative, and how it is an improvement over the no-harm/no-suicide contract. The Safety Plan consists of 6 steps: Recognition of warning signs Internal coping strategies Socialization strategies for distraction and support Social contacts for assistance in resolving […]

In my last post, Tear up that no-harm/no-suicide contract, I discussed contracts as a suicide prevention tool and recommended the Safety Planning Initiative (SPI) approach.  Developed by Stanley & Brown, the SPI process prompts the individual to develop an escalating series of self-care steps. The Safety Plan has a distinct advantage over the no-harm/no-suicide contract because the […]