Safety Planning for Mental Health Consumers Policy

Applicable to: This policy is applicable to all HSPs that provide public mental health services, including through emergency departments.

Description: Mental health consumers have a right to receive care in an environment where their safety is actively promoted.

Effective clinical care of mental health consumers requires an approach by health professionals that promotes safety and recovery, founded on shared understanding, supported decision-making and shared responsibility for safety.

This policy outlines the standards to ensure a consistent approach to protect the safety of mental health consumers.

This policy further aims to promote care that is:

  • recovery-oriented
  • person-centred
  • trauma-informed
  • culturally competent
  • developmentally appropriate.

This policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers (HSPs) under the Mental Health Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.

This policy must be read in conjunction with the following polices:

This policy supersedes the following:

  • MP 0074/17 Clinical Care of People Who May Be Suicidal Policy
  • MP 0101/18 Clinical Care of People with Mental Health Problems Who May Be At Risk of Becoming Violent or Aggressive Policy
  • MP 0070/17 Mental Health Emergency and Follow Up Information on Discharge from Hospital Emergency Departments Policy.

Date of effect: 15 January 2024

Policy Framework

Related documents

Supporting information