Towards a Better Use of Safety Planning in Emergency Departments: An Exploratory Study of Patients and Clinicians’ Perspectives

Suicidality frequently leads to emergency department (ED) visits, yet few interventions are offered in EDs to mitigate suicide risk. This study uses a descriptive interpretative design to evaluate the key components for a successful use of such an intervention, the Stanley-Brown safety plan, in EDs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and ED clinicians and were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Participants’ perspectives revealed 6 key recommendations for a successful use of the safety plan in EDs: (1) personalize the content of the safety plan, (2) offer a variety of formats, (3) avoid periods of high emotional intensity, (4) engage a broad range of professionals in safety planning, (5) use limited time to make meaningful interventions, (6) propose alternative interventions. A change in the ED culture is needed to ensure that the management of suicidal patients in EDs includes brief therapeutic interventions like safety planning, to mitigate suicide risk.