1. COLLABORATING WITH SUICIDAL CLIENTS ON SAFETY PLANS
Meryl Cassidy, LMSW, ACSW
Executive Director

2. HOW THE SAFETY PLAN WAS BORN

3. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES UNDERLYING SAFETY PLANNING
Suicide Risk Fluctuates
CBT Approaches to
Behavior change
Thoughts
Feelings
Behavior
Crisis Theory

4. EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE SUICIDE RISK
Suicidal Thoughts and Feelings
Person
at Risk
SPI Creates a Safe Space

5. 4 ELEMENTS OF RISK REDUCTION
Increase in problem solving and coping skills=increase in self efficacy
Enhance social supports & identify emergency contacts
Enhance motivation for further treatment
Means restriction

6. PURPOSES OF SAFETY PLANNING
Reduce risk
Enhance coping
Increase treatment motivation
Enhance linkage to social supports & mental health services
Reconcile difference between clinician’s goal to prevent suicide & individuals goal to end psychological pain via suicidal behavior
Encourage commitment to coping
Make the shift from suicide to safety explicit

7. TARGET POPULATION: When is it appropriate to use the Safety Plan?

8. BEGINNING THE SAFETY PLAN: Telling the Story
Warning Signs/Triggers of Suicidal State

9. DEVELOPING THE PLAN: The Importance of Collaboration & Consent
Risk assessment completed & client describes precipitants to suicidal crisis SPI can be
developed
Listen for turning point that will lead to agreement
to develop a plan for safety – must solicit
agreement

10. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN Overview of the 6 steps

11. COLLABORATION IS THE KEY TO THE SPI

12. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

13. SELF EFFICACY AND COPING
DBT SKILLS THAT HELP WITH SAFETY PLANNING
Interpersonal effectiveness
Mindfulness
Distress tolerance
Emotion regulation

14. Questions?

15. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS
“To the world you may be one
Person; but to one person you may
Be the world.” Dr. Seuss
Meryl Cassidy,ACSW, LMSW
Executive Director
Response Crisis Center