Safety Planning for Danger to Others, It’s Very Different Than Suicide Safety Planning

Safety planning for violence risk starts with identifying evidence-based risk factors. To help providers develop a safety plan, structured risk assessment instruments contain checklists of evidence-based risk factors to document completion.

The core of a safety plan includes strategies and tactics for managing risk, including tactics for monitoring patients and identifying warning signs, patient supervision, treatment options and victim safety planning. A good plan also identifies who will implement each aspect of the plan and addresses any issues about adhering to confidentiality regulations.