Why You Need a Safety Plan (Even When You’re Okay)

A lot of people think safety plans are only for moments of serious crisis—but honestly, they’re super helpful way before things get to that point.

Think of a safety plan like your personal mental health cheat sheet. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, shut down, or just really off, it’s hard to remember what helps. A safety plan takes the guesswork out of it. It’s a written reminder of what calms you, who to reach out to, and what steps to take when your brain’s too loud to think clearly.

It’s not about assuming the worst—it’s about being ready. Just like you don’t wait for your phone to die before thinking about charging it, you don’t want to wait for a total breakdown to start planning your support.

I’m including a great example from Lisa Johnson over at PrintableWithLisa.com (her mental health workbooks are amazing, by the way). It’s printable, easy to fill out, and a really solid starting point for building your own plan.

So even if you're doing okay right now—this is still worth having in your back pocket. Because when your brain hits panic mode, a little preparation goes a long way.