Four Lines on a Card

After a hospital stay, Anjali, 32, in Delhi has made it through a very dark week. Her counsellor suggests building a safety plan together on one page. Anjali is nervous, but she writes it in her own words.

After a hospital stay, Anjali, 32, in Delhi has made it through a very dark week. Her counsellor suggests building a safety plan together on one page. Anjali is nervous, but she writes it in her own words.

First, her warning signs: not sleeping, staying in bed all day, thinking she is a burden. Second, things she can do alone: a shower, music, stepping outside, holding a cold cloth. Third, people she can contact: her sister, a close friend, and her counsellor. Fourth, steps to make her home safer, with her brother keeping medicines locked away, and the local emergency service and nearest hospital written clearly.

Her sister keeps a copy and learns what to do. They agree to check in daily for the first weeks, and Anjali has follow-up appointments booked.

Some days are still hard. One evening she notices the warning signs, uses her list, and calls her sister, who comes over. Anjali later says, "The card gave me something to do when my mind went blank." Her family learns that recovery after a crisis takes time, and they stop avoiding the subject. She updates the card after each rough patch, adding a new calming activity or an extra friend to call, and her counsellor reviews it with her at each visit. Slowly she begins to trust herself again.

How to recognise it

• Recent crisis or hospital stay.

• Known warning signs such as poor sleep and withdrawal.

• Need for a clear plan that others also know.

• Risk remaining high in the weeks after a crisis.

• Family unsure how to talk about what happened.

What this story explains

A safety plan lists warning signs, coping steps, people to call and ways to make the environment safer. Support after a crisis matters as much as the emergency itself.

Probable root causes

• Underlying depression or other mental illness.

• Recent stress or loss.

• Isolation after discharge.

• Access to means of harm.

What to do

1. Write the plan with a counsellor or doctor, in your own words.

2. List warning signs, calming activities and trusted contacts.

3. Make the home safer by securing medicines and other risks.

4. Share the plan with family or friends.

5. Keep follow-up appointments.

6. Review the plan after each rough patch.

Whom to consult

• Psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for follow-up and building the plan.

• Family doctor for ongoing health care.

• Emergency service or nearest hospital whenever safety is at risk.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• Say: "I am glad you are here. How can I support you this week?"

• Listen without pressing for details.

• Check in gently and regularly.

• Respond calmly to warning signs.