WHAT IS A SAFETY PLAN?
A safety plan is a practical guide that helps lower your risk of being hurt by your abuser. It includes information specific to you and your life that will help keep you safe. A good safety plan helps you think through lifestyle changes that will help keep you as safe as possible on campus, in the dorms and other places that you go on a daily basis.
A safety plan should meet your needs, and be practical. Safety planning can involve the following:
- How to cope with emotions and what has happened,
- How to tell friends and family about the abuse,
- Options for taking legal action,
- How to stay safe at home or in public,
- Or anything else that feels important or comfortable for you!
WHY DO I NEED A SAFETY PLAN?
Everyone deserves a relationship that is healthy, safe and supportive. If you are in a relationship that is hurting you, it is important for you to know that the abuse is not your fault. It is also important for you to start thinking of ways to keep yourself safe from the abuse, whether you decide to end the relationship or not. While you can’t control your partner’s abusive behavior, you can take action to keep yourself as safe as possible.
HOW DO I MAKE A SAFETY PLAN?
Take some time for yourself to go through each section of this safety plan. You can complete the workbook on your own, or you can work through it with someone else that you trust.