Suicide Safe: The Suicide Prevention App for
Behavioral Health and Primary Care Providers
Free from SAMHSA

Learn to conduct suicide assessments and develop safety plans.

For individuals at risk of suicide, behavioral health and primary care settings provide unique opportunities to connect with the health care system and access effective treatment.

Primary care and behavioral health providers can leverage the relationship they have with a patient, in a safe setting, to potentially save a life by conducting a suicide assessment, and when needed, developing a safety plan. Almost half (45%) of individuals who die by suicide have visited a primary care provider in the month prior to their death, and 20% have had contact with mental health services.1

As a Federal leader in suicide prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) works closely with national suicide prevention organizations and nonprofit groups to provide tools and resources to help reduce suicide rates. By accessing this collaborative expertise, Suicide Safe, SAMHSA’s new suicide prevention app for mobile devices and optimized for tablets, helps providers integrate suicide prevention strategies into their practice and reduce suicide risk among their patients.

Suicide Safe is a free app based on SAMHSA’s Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) card and TIP 50 and includes clinical education and support resources for providers. Goals of Suicide Safe are to enable providers to more confidently assist patients who present with suicidal ideation, communicate effectively with patients and their families, determine appropriate next steps, and make referrals to treatment and community resources, which are critical components to saving lives.

SAMHSA’s Suicide Safe helps providers:

Explore the Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T)card and easily download for use offline.
Study interactive sample cases that allow you to learn and review the five steps of the SAFE-T as you progress through case scenarios and tips.
Access information, including suicide prevention wallet/pocket guides, educational opportunities, and other supportive resources.
Access patient education materials, including crisis hotline wallet cards, fact sheets, and treatment resources.
Browse conversation starters that provide sample language and tips for talking with patients about their suicidal ideation.
Use SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator to provide timely referrals for patients.

Suicide Safe, SAMHSA’s free suicide prevention app, is coming soon for iOS® and Android™mobile devices.

1 Luoma JB, Martin CE, Pearson JL. Contact with mental health and primary care providers before suicide: a review of the evidence. Am J Psychiatry. 2002;159:909-916.