LIFE PLAN
A Life Plan is a simple, proactive tool for everyone—not just for those facing a mental health concern or crisis. It’s a way to prepare for life’s challenges by identifying healthy coping strategies, trusted supports, and safe steps you can take when stress or difficult emotions arise.
A Life Plan can also include practical considerations, like how to safely store and protect important items such as medications or firearms, ensuring they are secure and cannot be stolen or accessed in unsafe moments. Creating a Life Plan is about being prepared, staying safe, and giving both yourself and your loved ones peace of mind.
What is a Life Plan?
A Life Plan is a personal guide that helps you think ahead about your firearms—how they are stored, who can access them, and what happens to them in different situations.
This plan is not only for people facing a mental health challenge—it’s for every firearm owner. Families grow, health changes, and life brings unexpected events. A Life Plan gives you control, protects your loved ones, and ensures your firearms are handled the way you want—safely, securely, and with dignity
Why Have a Life Plan?
Without a plan, families may be left with uncertainty during stressful moments. A Life Plan takes the guesswork out and replaces it with clarity.
It helps you:
Keep firearms secure so children, teens, or visitors cannot access them.
Protect against theft by using safes, locks, or other secure storage.
Reduce risks during a crisis, ensuring you or a loved one have space and time to seek help.
Plan for the future, including what happens to your firearms as life circumstances change.
What Goes Into a Life Plan?
Your plan should be unique to you, but can include:
Safe Storage Decisions: Where firearms and ammunition are kept, and how they are locked or secured.
Crisis Steps: What happens if you or someone in your home is struggling, including who should take temporary responsibility for your firearms.
Trusted Contacts: The people you choose to help manage or secure your firearms if you cannot.
Future Arrangements: Whether firearms are gifted, donated, sold, or destroyed when you no longer want them.
Personal Notes: Special instructions, wishes, or history you want others to know.
This is a living document—you can change it as your circumstances change.
Using Your Life Plan
Download the template
Fill out your coping strategies, warning signs, and trusted supports
Keep it in a safe but visible location for quick access if needed
Downloadable Content: Simplified Life Plan
For more information about Life Plans and access to additional templates, visit the Firearm Life Plan website.
Firearm Inventory and Life Plan
Along with your Life Plan, using safe storage for firearms and medications creates an even safer environment.
Limited free storage devices are available to those in need, including gun locks, lock boxes, and medication lock bags. For more information, contact Taylor Volovar at tvolovar@alternativepaths.org or call (330) 725-9195 ext. 371.
Life Plans In Practice
Are you unsure how a Life Plan would work for you and your family? Here are some real world examples of how having a Life Plan keeps people safe.
A Veteran’s Story
Summary: A veteran reflects on the journey from military service in Afghanistan to the challenges of returning home, coping with PTSD, and navigating family life. Initially keeping a firearm close as a sense of security, the birth of a daughter and ongoing struggles with mental health prompted a shift toward safer practices. With the support of the VA, therapy, and her husband, she created a plan to store firearms securely, ensuring moments of vulnerability are met with conversation and connection rather than risk. Her story highlights resilience, proactive safety, and the power of support systems in recovery.
Need Help Now?
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone.
Call the 24/7 Crisis & Behavioral Health Helpline: 330-725-9195
Text 4Hope to 741741
Veterans can connect with support at the Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and Press 1