Safety Policy & Crisis Planning

Personal Safety Plan (example)
Meir System Therapy Practice

This plan is yours to keep. You are welcome to complete it before our first session, or we can work through it together. Either way, having it in place means we can focus on the therapeutic work from the start.

Keep this somewhere accessible — saved on your phone, printed at home, or somewhere you can reach it easily.

Part 1 — About you

Your name:

Date completed:

Your location (city, region, country):

Your GP or doctor (name and phone number):

Part 2 — Your support people

List one or two people in your life who know your situation and who you can contact when things feel difficult.

Support person 1 — name:

Support person 1 — phone number:

Support person 2 — name:

Support person 2 — phone number:

Part 3 — Emergency and crisis contacts

For clients based in Hawke’s Bay or elsewhere in New Zealand. If you are based outside the region or overseas, please complete Part 5 instead.

Emergency services

New Zealand emergency services (police, ambulance, fire): 111

Mental health crisis — available 24 hours, 7 days

Hawke’s Bay Emergency Mental Health Service: 0800 112 334
New Zealand national — text or call: 1737
Lifeline: 0800 543 354
Suicide Crisis Helpline (Tautoko): 0508 828 865

Domestic violence and family harm

Shine: 0508 744 633
Women’s Refuge: 0800 733 843

Child safety

Oranga Tamariki: 0508 326 459 — available 24 hours
For urgent child safety concerns outside of hours: 111

Other helpline relevant to my situation

Name of service:

Phone number:

Part 4 — Personal risk plan

This section is for clients where risk has been identified — including suicidal thoughts or ideation, self-harm, risk of harm to others, domestic violence, or child safety concerns. If this does not apply to your situation, you do not need to complete this part.

A safety plan is required before therapeutic work begins in any of these situations. We will discuss and agree on this plan together, and it can also be prepared in advance if you feel ready to do so.

Warning signs — how do I know when I need support?
What thoughts, feelings, or situations tell you that things are becoming difficult?

[Write your answer here]

What helps me in that moment?
Things you can do on your own to feel safer or calmer before reaching out.

[Write your answer here]

Who I will contact first and what I will do
Name and number of the first person or service you will reach out to when at risk.

[Write your answer here]

If I cannot reach them, I will
Name a backup contact or service.

[Write your answer here]

In an emergency I will call
New Zealand: 111. For clients based overseas, your local emergency number as filled in below.

Part 5 — For clients based outside Hawke’s Bay or overseas

If you are based outside the Hawke’s Bay region or outside New Zealand, please fill in the equivalent contacts for your own location. Most countries have free crisis lines available by phone, text, or chat. If you are unsure what is available where you live, I can help you find the right services as part of our initial contact.

Emergency services

My local emergency number:
Australia: 000  |  United Kingdom: 999  |  Europe: 112  |  USA & Canada: 911  |  Other:

Mental health crisis line — available 24 hours, 7 days

Name of service:

Phone number or website:

Domestic violence and family harm

Name of service:

Phone number or website:

Child safety

Name of service:

Phone number or website:

Other helpline relevant to my situation

Name of service:

Phone number or website:

A note on contacting me: due to the nature of my work I am generally not available to answer the phone during the day. I respond to texts, emails, and voicemails within two to three business days. Please use the contacts in this plan in any situation of acute distress or crisis — do not wait to hear from me