Give them the short version.
Not a full Wellness Recovery Action Plan—one page you can actually hand a partner or friend. Who's in your circle, what steady/watch/urgent look like, what helps, and when to escalate.
What should we call this plan?
This will personalize your Recovery Plan. Only used on this document.
Who's this for, and what's their role?
List the people who might see this card and what they're responsible for. Keep it short—this is a card, not a directory.
What does steady, watch, and urgent look like?
Plain language someone who isn't a clinician can actually use in the moment.
Green · Steady
This is my baseline—no action needed.Yellow · Watch
Notice it, mention it gently—not yet a crisis.Red · Urgent
Time to act on the escalation step, not just watch.What actually helps—and what's a hard no?
Be specific. "Be supportive" isn't actionable; "sit with me, don't fix me" is.
If this happens, escalate—no debate.
Write the trigger and the exact action, so the person holding this card doesn't have to guess or negotiate with you in the moment.
Recovery Plan — Shareable
Circle & Roles
Green · Steady
Yellow · Watch
Red · Urgent
What Helps
Hard Nos
Escalate If
The Recovery Plan is a personal planning tool, not a diagnostic or clinical instrument. It supports self-authorship and communication—it does not replace clinicians or crisis services.