Pupil Safety Plan
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Pooky KnightsmithPupil Safety Plan
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Pooky Knightsmith20 Toolkit
Form – Pupil safety plan
Safety plans are primarily used with people at risk of suicide but are also helpful for pupils who self-harm with no suicidal intent. This
example safety plan can be adapted for individual pupils’ use.
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Things that help me get through the next minute:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Steps to make my situation safer:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Things that help me feel calmer:
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Things to distract me:
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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People who I can talk to or go to for help:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Other sources of support:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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ATTENDANCE MATTERS MAGAZINE | October 2019 © Forum Business Media Ltd 2019
Toolkit 21
Safety plan supporting notes
When developing a safety plan, one should remember the following:
1. This is about what works for you, not anyone else. There are no right or wrong answers so if something works,
note it down, even if it feels strange or silly.
2. Try to be as specific as possible when you note your ideas down; this will make it easier to follow your plan at
times of crisis when you’re not thinking very clearly.
3. Be flexible – adapt and change your plan over time, adding new ideas as they come to you and getting rid of
anything that you’ve tried but doesn’t work.
Things that help me get through the next minute
List things here that can help you in the moment, when you feel overcome by the urge to self-harm. It can help to
think about times in the past when you’ve felt the urge to self-harm but managed not to. What helped then?
Steps to make my situation safer
What can you do to make yourself safer when you feel the urge to self-harm? For example, you might find that
going and being near to other people means you are less likely to hurt yourself or you might take yourself to a
room away from items that you use to harm yourself.
Things that help me feel calmer
List things that help you to feel a little bit calmer or that lift your mood. This might include things like mindfulness
or relaxation activities, talking to a friend, looking at pictures that make you smile or listening to music.
Things to distract me
Sometimes it can be helpful to try and think about something less distressing for a few minutes. You can do this
in any way that works for you; it might include things like playing with a pet, watching videos, going for a walk or
talking to a friend.
People who I can talk to or go to for help
It’s helpful to think about school and home options here. Who can you go to if you’re really struggling and need
someone to help you feel safe?
Other sources of support
List any websites, helplines or textlines that you find helpful. Having at least one source of support that is available
24/7 is helpful as you never know quite when you’ll need support.
© Forum Business Media Ltd 2019 October 2019 | ATTENDANCE MATTERS MAGAZINE
